Floods set to increase number of food-insecure South Sudanese this year

In Numbers

5.5 million people facing acute food insecurity from January to April 2020 (IPC)
2.1 million acutely malnourished women and children (HRP)
1.7 million people assisted by WFP in November 2019
1.47 million internally displaced people (OCHA)
2.24 million South Sudanese refugees (UNHCR)
180,478 seeking shelter with the UN (UNMISS)

Highlights

• WFP and cooperating partners reached around 5 million food insecure people with vital food and nutrition assistance across South Sudan in 2019.

• WFP invested around USD 40 million in the local economy through cash-based transfers, supporting local markets where they are functioning.

• WFP procured more than 8,000 metric tons locally in 2019, investing USD 2.7 million in local agriculture.

• WFP has registered more than 2 million people in SCOPE, the beneficiary identity management and transfer system.

Situation Update

• WFP is concerned about the food security outlook for 2020, the latest IPC projects up to 5.5 million South Sudanese will likely face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity between January and April. However, due to the impact of flooding, it is likely that the number of households experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity and the severity of food insecurity is higher than originally anticipated. WFP plans to reach around 5 million of the most food insecure people in 2020.

• WFP faces a USD 270 million shortfall to continue assistance for the first six months of 2020 including prepositioning. Urgent donor support is required to allow timely procurement and transportation of food to remote locations before these locations get cut off from supply sources.

• In 2019, WFP and cooperating partners reached around 5 million people with food and nutrition assistance and USD 40 million in cash-based transfers.
Additionally, WFP procured more than 8,000 metric tons locally in South Sudan, worth USD 2.7 million. WFP plans to scale up local procurement to 15,000 metric tons in 2020.

• WFP and UNICEF released a joint call for action “Breaking the Cycle of Malnutrition in South Sudan” highlighting the urgent need for a paradigm shift in approaches to prevent and care for malnutrition in 2020. The call for action outlines the integrated response the two agencies vow to implement and clearly identifies the continued support needed from donors to reduce the burden of 2.1 million women and children suffering from acute malnutrition across the country.