JUBA, South Sudan – The World Food Programme (WFP) is today calling on all parties to the conflict to urgently halt military operations, de-escalate the situation and allow safe humanitarian access to deliver lifesaving food assistance to hundreds of thousands of people in South Sudan’s Jonglei State.
The risk of escalating conflict in Jonglei means many of the 2 million people living there will be forced to flee in search of safety and food. Nearly 60% of the population is already expected to face crisis levels of hunger during the upcoming lean season – when hunger is at its worst.
“This military escalation could not have come at a worse time,” said Adham Effendi, WFP’s acting country director in South Sudan. “Our window to reach the most vulnerable is quickly closing. The time to act is now, and we urge all parties to protect civilians and aid workers and allow the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance.”
Beginning in February, pre-positioning lifesaving food assistance and relief supplies closer to hunger hotspots is crucial before the lean season – which spans from April to July – when heavy rains also cut off key overland routes to reach vulnerable women, men and children.
Currently, both the WFP-led Logistics Cluster and the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) have not received clearance from authorities to coordinate road convoys and passenger flights on behalf of the humanitarian sector. Without urgent action, entire communities will be left beyond the reach of the vital assistance they require.
“It is imperative that we immediately address these restrictions to ensure that humanitarian aid can be delivered effectively and without delay,” says Effendi. “With safe and unimpeded passage, WFP has the teams and capacity to reach the most vulnerable families. Hundreds of thousands of lives depend on it,” says Effendi.
Across South Sudan in 2026, WFP aims to reach 3.3 million of the most vulnerable women, men and children with lifesaving emergency food, nutrition, school meals, resilience and cash-based assistance.
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The World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and the world’s leading humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate extremes.
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Originally posted on wfp.org
