South Sudan Crisis - Food Assistance - World Food Programme 2014

July 2014 - The complex humanitarian situation in South Sudan has become much worse since fighting broke out between government and anti-government forces in Juba the capital city in December 2013. The fighting has displaced some 1.1 million people from their homes within South Sudan and more than 400 000 people have sought refuge in neighbouring countries (Kenya Ethiopia Sudan and Uganda). Agricultural production has been disrupted and essential basic services such as water points schools and medical facilities have been shut down or destroyed in the fighting. Immediate humanitarian assistance needs both within South Sudan and in neighbouring countries include food health care shelter protection water sanitation and hygiene. With the support of DFATD and other donors the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is providing emergency food assistance to up to 1.1 million crisis-affected people in South Sudan and 400 000 people seeking protection in neighbouring countries. Some project activities include: (1) providing emergency food assistance to people affected by the conflict including those in remote and hard-to-reach locations through air drops and air lifts; (2) providing children under five with blanket supplementary feeding to prevent malnutrition; and (3) providing cash and vouchers in communities hosting displaced people.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to food assistance for crisis-affected populations; (2) improved nutritional status of children under five years of age; and (3) increased resilience of communities hosting displaced people. The expected intermediate outcome is the reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.