Children wait to receive food distributed at the Returnee Transit site on the outskirts of Juba in South Sudan. Returnees were provided with three meals a day.
The Minister of Environment and Forestry, Josephine Napwon Cosmas, revealed that over 60% of South Sudan’s population is currently food insecure. This alarming statistic was announced during the COP29 preparatory meeting under the theme, “Strengthening climate actions for a resilient future.”
Napwon emphasized the urgent need for life-saving interventions to support those displaced by climate-induced events and climate refugees. She noted that the climate crisis of 2019, which brought heavy flooding and significant displacement, continues to impact the same states today.
Currently, over one million people are reported to be displaced and in dire need of humanitarian assistance due to ongoing floods. Napwon stressed that severe droughts, excessive heat, and erratic rainfall patterns have led to widespread crop failure, further exacerbating food insecurity, especially in East Equatoria State and the northern regions.
The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that South Sudan faces a dual climate crisis, with parts of the country experiencing unprecedented flooding while others suffer from severe drought. This has left more than 7 million people food insecure, with 1.65 million children malnourished. Additionally, over 800,000 people have fled the Sudan conflict and crossed into South Sudan since April 2023, further straining resources.
President Salva Kiir has called for diversification into non-oil ventures, highlighting agriculture as a sector with significant potential. The US embassy also urged South Sudanese leaders to address the root causes of food insecurity, including conflict, economic instability, and corruption.
South Sudan’s vast agricultural potential remains largely untapped, despite favorable conditions for crop production. Addressing these challenges is essential to ensuring food security and building a resilient future for the nation.
