Mar 2014
South Sudan faces a major food and nutrition crisis; but we have an opportunity NOW to mitigate some of its impacts.
The food security outlook is increasingly alarming in the most conflict-affected states (Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity), and is unlikely to improve in the short-term. Livelihoods are diversified in these states, with people relying on a mix of livestock rearing, fishing, farming, wage labour and sometimes hunting to meet their needs.
Food security assessments indicate that the fighting has left people unable to pursue normal livelihood activities, with little evidence of preparations for the upcoming planting season, reports of livestock herds being dislocated from traditional migration routes and key markets having collapsed. Urgent interventions are needed, even in hard-to-access areas, to prevent a further deterioration in food security.
In states less affected by the conflict, some populations are still recovering from last year’s floods and FAO remains concerned about the potential impact of this year’s floods on livestock herds