This archive report was first published on 12 December 2019.
Published on December 12, 2019, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned that catastrophic floods in South Sudan could lead to famine, affecting nearly one million people.
The floods, which began in October, have washed away crops and livestock, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation in the war-torn country.
According to the WFP, 5.5 million people are expected to go hungry in early 2020, as the population relies on their harvest from October and November of the previous year.
"The number of people in need is likely to increase because of the catastrophic level of destruction caused by floods since October," the WFP stated.
The agency estimated that the floods wiped out 73,000 metric tons of potential harvests, as well as tens of thousands of cattle and goats.
WFP Executive Director David Beasley warned that if funding is not secured in the next few weeks and months, the country could face famine.
"We need support, we need help, and we need it now," Beasley said.
The WFP has estimated its needs at $270 million (242 million euros) for the first half of 2020.
South Sudan declared a "man-made" famine affecting around 100,000 people in 2017, but a concerted humanitarian response defeated the famine after four months.
However, experts now say the country's food security outlook has never been so dire, with political instability also contributing to the crisis.
