Mass Starvation Threatens 7 Million South Sudanese

WAR, FAMINE AND DISEASE
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South Sudan is weeks away from worst famine in recent African history: UN

Unless comprehensive action is taken to address hunger in South Sudan before the planting season ends in May, the country faces one of the worst famines in African history, UN agencies have said.

“If we miss the planting season, there will be a catastrophic decline in food security,” said Toby Lanzer, the Deputy Special Representative to the Secretary-General for the UN Mission in South Sudan. “What will strike that country, and it will hit about seven million people, will be more grave than anything that continent has seen since the mid-1980s.”

Based on the UN assessment, the crucial planting season in South Sudan will end in less than 5 weeks.

South Sudan: 7 Million at Risk of Hunger and Disease

Video clips and photos taken in the hot spots of South Sudan since conflict erupted there on 15 December 2013. Posted on YT by Toby Lanzer.

Related Links

• Human Conflicts Continue to Plague the Planet March 30, 2014
• Thousands Killed in South Sudan, as Violence Spreads: UN December 25, 2013
• 500 Killed, 20,000 Displaced in South Sudan Conflict December 18, 2013

Human Conflicts Continue to Plague the Planet

More than 1 million South Sudanese Displaced:UN

At least 1 Million people have been forced from their homes due to the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, said the UN

More than quarter of million people have taken refuge in neighboring countries and at least 800,000 have been displaced internally.

Fighting erupted between the troops loyal to Salva Kiir, the president of South Sudan and and his deputy, Riek Machar, in December 2013.

Despite a ceasefire agreement in January,  fighting has continued.

Food security

The conflict has caused “a serious deterioration in the food security situation” leaving around 3.7 million people at high risk,” said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

“Fighting between government and opposition forces has continued, especially in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile state, where towns and rural areas have been ravaged by the violence.”

Nearly 5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, however “the remote and dispersed placement sites make it difficult to reach many of South Sudan’s conflict-affected people,” says the UN.

A large number of South Sudanese war refugees have crossed the border  Ethiopia since fighting erupted  in December.  Many others have  fled to Kenya, Sudan and Uganda, while the internally displaced have sought shelter in UN bases, according to reports.

Related Links

• Thousands Killed in South Sudan, as Violence Spreads: UN Posted on December 25, 2013
• 500 Killed, 20,000 Displaced in South Sudan Conflict December 18, 2013