JUBA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) said Tuesday it faces a critical funding shortfall of 412 million U.S. dollars to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of millions in crisis-hit South Sudan in 2025.
The WFP highlighted pressing requirements, including food and nutrition aid for crisis-affected populations, prepositioning supplies before the rainy season in May, and logistical support services.
"The country is grappling with a long-standing humanitarian crisis marked by chronic food and nutrition insecurity, worsened by the severe economic downturn and climatic shocks," the WFP said in its latest report.
The conflict in neighboring Sudan has worsened the situation, pushing over one million refugees into South Sudan.
According to the UN, about 9.3 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2025 -- 300,000 more than in 2024 -- while over 1.8 million remain internally displaced due to violence and climate-related disasters such as floods and droughts.
Between December 2024 and March 2025, approximately 6.1 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity at crisis levels or worse, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. Projections indicate that the number could rise to 7.7 million during the 2025 lean season.
The WFP, meanwhile, noted that Sudan's conflict has exacerbated South Sudan's economic conditions. Damage to Sudan's oil pipeline has disrupted exports, reducing foreign exchange inflows and depreciating the local currency.
South Sudan is grappling with multiple crises, including subnational violence, economic instability, and food insecurity, pushing millions of families into unprecedented humanitarian, economic, and political vulnerability, the agency warned. ■
