Famine in South Sudan

Famine has been officially declared in parts of South Sudan.

It is the first time famine has been declared anywhere in the world since 2011, and it doesn’t get more extreme than this in terms of suffering.

Across South Sudan, 275,000 children face imminent risk of death from starvation. And an additional 1 million people in other parts of the country are literally on the brink of famine, unable to meet their survival needs.

Photo: Guy Calaf for Action Against Hunger, South Sudan

Young children and their families need our help. Millions of lives are in danger. We can’t wait another moment to deliver lifesaving aid.

What areas are experiencing famine in South Sudan?

The dark red area on the map of South Sudan below indicates famine according to Integrated Phase Classification (IPC). IPC is used to describe the severity of food emergencies.

Action Against Hunger is on the ground in four states of South Sudan: Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, Jonglei, and Central Equatoria.

We are racing against time to stop the famine from engulfing other areas and taking the lives of more children. But we need more supplies and resources to meet the extreme needs.

No child should die from hunger. No country should be experiencing this level of widespread crisis.

Make an emergency gift to save lives in South Sudan >>

Photo: Andrew Parsons/i-Images for Action Against Hunger, South Sudan

Why is there a famine in South Sudan?

In 2013, war erupted in the world’s newest nation, South Sudan.

The violence has uprooted 3.39 million people, and conflict throughout the country has cut off entire communities from humanitarian assistance. As a result, families escaping violence have no access to supplies of food or safe water.

Photo: Andrew Parsons/i-Images for Action Against Hunger, South Sudan

Since then, political upheaval and ongoing conflict—combined with widespread insecurity, food shortages, and an unstable economy—have contributed to a spiraling humanitarian emergency.

About 42 percent of the population does not know where their next meal will come from.

Agauwol Akec is one of many mothers struggling desperately to fend for her family amidst dwindling food supplies. Agauwol and her family were already poor, but the war has left them with nothing.

She told us, “I have been feeding my children leaves from trees because there is nothing else.”

You can help save a family just like Agauwol’s from starvation >>

Our Work in South Sudan

We have been working in South Sudan since 1985. Last year alone, we reached more than 360,000 people with emergency food and nutrition programs, as well as livelihoods and water and sanitation interventions.

Our emergency teams are responding on the frontlines of the widespread food crisis, supporting emergency assessments and lifesaving humanitarian action where it is most needed.

Photo: Andrew Parsons/i-Images for Action Against Hunger, South Sudan

This emergency is projected to worsen over the next six months unless a major response is mobilized immediately.

Communities already facing severe food shortages are now entering the “lean season,” when already inadequate food supplies will run out, leaving people in great danger in the months before the next harvest.

Photo: Andrew Parsons/i-Images for Action Against Hunger, South Sudan

Take action

You can help save a child or a family from the threat of famine.

Your gift will allow us to deliver emergency food, urgent treatment for malnourished children, supplies and humanitarian assistance for people in desperate need.

Spread the word

We need your voice to help spread the word about the humanitarian catastrophe in South Sudan. The more people we can reach with our message, the more lives we can save.

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About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger is a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the lives of malnourished children. We ensure families can access clean water, food, training, and health care. We enable entire communities to be free from hunger.

http://www.actionagainsthunger.org