Food insecurity on the rise in South Sudan

The Republic of South Sudan is an independent country since 2011 when it detached from the rest of Sudan. In the years following its acclamation of independence, ties with Sudan deteriorated and tensions replaced them. Whilst South Sudan faced administrative issues surrounding their parting with Sudan on the outside, such as Sudanese pipelines for oil transport, problems within their borders now included armed rebel groups. There were many attempts to agree on a cease-fire from January 2014 onwards, most of which were quickly violated as fighting resumed. In the meanwhile, a humanitarian crisis grew in South Sudan alongside the thousands left dead in consequence of the fighting. In 2014, a famine was only avoided because of donor aid. However, the population is still at great risk of food insecurity as the hostilities disrupted farming efforts.

In March 2021, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) launched the South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan meant to reach over 6 million people with life-saving assistance. A spokesperson for the UNOCHA has claimed that South Sudan is facing its highest levels of food insecurity and malnutrition and also highlighted the impact of the pandemic.

Pibor, a small colonial era outpost built over 100 years ago by the British, is now at the epicentre of the hunger crisis currently taking over South Sudan. According to NGO workers, the crisis could be the most extreme in living memory. Whilst famines usually have an equal impact on both men and women, studies have shown that often women and girls eat last and least. In perspective, from the 690 million people currently suffering from food insecurity or starving worldwide, 60% are women and girls. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the food insecurity as cultural norms dictate that women and girls eat last, if anything is left.