UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing South Sudan - Insecurity and Malnutrition Ocha - WFP - UNHCR 16 March 2021
/
2:52
/
MP4
/
211.7 MB

Edited News | UNHCR , OCHA , UNITED NATIONS , WFP

UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing South Sudan - Insecurity and Malnutrition Ocha - WFP - UNHCR 16 March 2021

South Sudanese “one step away from famine”, said World Food Programme (WFP)

As hunger levels continue to deepen in South Sudan due to a combination of violence, climate change and Covid-19, the 2021 South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan was launched today aiming to reach 6.6 million people – including 350,000 refugees - with life-saving assistance and protection this year. The plan requests US$1.7 billion in funding to enable UN aid agencies and partners to deliver lifesaving assistance to the world’s youngest country.

“South Sudan is facing its highest levels of food insecurity and malnutrition since independence 10 years ago”, said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “The South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan for 2021, which is being launched today, aims to reach 6.6 million people at life-saving assistance and protection this year.”

The Humanitarian Response Plan has identified 8.3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, including refugees, across the country. This is an 800,000-person increase in absolute numbers from the 7.5 million people in need in 2020.

“Violence and localized conflicts in many parts of the country also drive up humanitarian needs, and the impact again of COVID-19 on markets, services and people’s ability to move around have increased their vulnerability”, said OCHA’s Jens Laerke.

South Sudan is expected to see devastating flooding again this year. Last year and in 2019 flooding affected almost 1 million people. According to Jens Laerke, “the upcoming lean season in South Sudan from May to July is likely going to be the most severe on record and the immediate priorities in the response plan are to sustain the deliveries in the most food insecure areas and prepare for this upcoming raining season which could, again, be devastating.”

The World Food Programme (WFP) has painted an equally grim picture on South Sudan due to a toxic combination of escalating conflict, climate change and COVID-19 that could spell a hunger catastrophe for millions of already vulnerable people. WFP estimates that 60 percent of the population is increasingly hungry.

“Approximately 7.2 million South Sudanese have been pushed into severe food insecurity due again to sporadic violence, extreme weather and the economic impact of COVID-19”, said Tomson Phiri, spokesperson of the World Food Programme (WFP). He added that “this figure includes over 100,000 people who are in those hard-to-reach areas of 6 counties who are at risk of famine. They are literally one step away from famine according to the Famine Review Committee report.”

WFP has been scaling up its support in, Akobo, Pibor, Aweil west, Tonj North, Tonj South and Tonj East counties reaching 195,000 vulnerable people in early 2021.

“The World Food Programme has started to pre-position food stocks, again ahead of that rainy season, to ensure that crucial food assistance reaches the most vulnerable populations without delay during the lean season”, reported Mr. Phiri.

WFP plans to reach over 5 million people in South Sudan with food and nutrition assistance across its emergency, nutrition and livelihoods programmes.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is aiming to provide humanitarian assistance for more than 2,2 million South Sudanese refugees living in five neighbouring countries in 2021.

Millions of the world’s youngest nation are displaced either inside or outside South Sudan. “The crisis continues to be a children’s one with more than 65% of the refugee population being under 18”, said UNHCR’s spokesperson Babar Baloch.

While some progress has been made in implementing the latest peace agreement, humanitarian and protection needs remain high for the largest refugee situation on the African continent. The majority of South Sudanese refugees are hosted in relatively remote and under-developed areas. UNHCR’s Babar Baloch said that “the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the climate change related challenges including severe flooding, droughts and desert locust have compounded an already dire situation. Funding is urgently needed to provide life-sustaining assistance including shelter, access to safe-drinking water, education and health services.”

Food shortages are particularly acute with insufficient funding already leading to ration cuts impacting hundreds of thousands of refugees.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda continue to host South Sudanese refugees and to take steps towards their inclusion in national systems.

  1. Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying, a cloudy day.
  2. Wide shot, podium with speakers in a near-empty Room XIV in line with COVID-19 distancing measures, Palais des Nations.
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “South Sudan is facing its highest levels of food insecurity and malnutrition since independence 10 years ago. The South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan for 2021, which is being launched today, aims to reach 6.6 million people at life-saving assistance and protection this year.”
  4. Medium shot, podium with speakers, side shot, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “Violence and localized conflicts in many parts of the country also drive up humanitarian needs, and the impact again of COVID-19 on markets, services and people’s ability to move around have increased their vulnerability.”
  6. Medium shot, podium with speakers and TV broadcasting, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “So the upcoming lean season in South Sudan from May to July is likely going to be the most severe on record and the immediate priorities in the response plan are to sustain the deliveries in the most food insecure areas and prepare for this upcoming raining season which could, again, be devastating.”
  8. Medium shot, TV broadcasting in foreground and podium to rear, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) — Tomson Phiri, Spokesperson for the World Food Programme (WFP): “Approximately 7.2 million South Sudanese have been pushed into severe food insecurity due again to sporadic violence, extreme weather and the economic impact of COVID-19. This figure includes over 100,000 people who are in those hard-to-reach areas of 6 counties who are at risk of famine. They are literally one step away from famine according to the Famine Review Committee report.”
  10. Medium shot, journalist typing on laptop, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) — Tomson Phiri, Spokesperson for the World Food Programme (WFP): “The World Food Programme has started to pre-position food stocks, again ahead of that rainy season, to ensure that crucial food assistance reaches the most vulnerable populations without delay during the lean season.”
  12. Medium-wide shot, UNTV cameras and cameraman standing, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  13. SOUNDBITE (English) — Babar Baloch, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “The crisis continues to be a children’s one with more than 65% of the refugee population being under 18.”
  14. Medium shot, journalist using listening device and typing on laptop, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  15. SOUNDBITE (English) — Babar Baloch, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “The COVID-19 pandemic combined with the climate change related challenges including severe flooding, droughts and desert locust have compounded an already dire situation. Funding is urgently needed to provide life-sustaining assistance including shelter, access to safe-drinking water, education and health services.”
  16. Medium shot, journalist typing on phone, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  17. Medium shot, podium with speakers, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  18. Medium shot, podium with speakers in foreground and Room XIV to rear, Palais des Nations.
  19. Medium shot, TV broadcasting to rear, in-between two seats, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.

Similar Stories

HRC Press Conference:  Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran - 14 March 2025

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC , OHCHR

HRC Press Conference: Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran - 14 March 2025 ENG FRA

Human Rights Council (HRC) - Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran launches its latest report.

HRC - Press Conference: Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory 13 March 2025

2

1

1

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC - Press Conference: Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory 13 March 2025 ENG FRA

Senior human rights investigators reporting to the Human Rights Council alleged on Thursday that sexual and gender-based violence by Israeli security forces against Palestinian men, women and children have been increasingly used “as a method of war” following the 7 October 2023 attacks that sparked the Gaza war.

Rohingya Cox's Bazar update - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF

Rohingya Cox's Bazar update - UNICEF ENG FRA

Bangladesh: Humanitarians describe ‘extreme desperation’ as aid cuts deepen Rohingya children’s suffering

In Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar refugee settlements, child malnutrition has surged and cuts in aid funding risk creating a humanitarian “catastrophe”, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on Syria

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on Syria ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday gave an update on the situation in Syria’s coastal region as reports continue to emerge of the distressing scale of violence there since 6 March. 

DR Congo crisis update - UNHCR 07 March 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR

DR Congo crisis update - UNHCR 07 March 2025 ENG FRA

The aid response in Burundi to the crisis in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) “is literally buckling”, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, warned on Friday, as it relayed dramatic testimonies from people forced to flee the unchecked advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

DRC displacement crisis - UNHCR

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR

DRC displacement crisis - UNHCR ENG FRA

Close to 80,000 have fled DR Congo amid fighting, sexual violence: UNHCR

In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), insecurity and horrific sexual violence have pushed tens of thousands to flee across borders with no sign of the exodus stopping, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday.

HRC58 - UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk  global update speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

HRC58 - UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk global update speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the Human Rights Council, highlighting key issues and trends, and the human rights situation in more than 30 countries. 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on the human rights situation in Myanmar

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on the human rights situation in Myanmar ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva that the human rights situation in Myanmar was among the worst in the world. 

Haiti children in armed groups - UNICEF 28 February 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF

Haiti children in armed groups - UNICEF 28 February 2025 ENG FRA

Haiti: Massive surge in child armed group recruitment – UNICEF

The ongoing emergency in Haiti is crushing children’s chances of an education and a better future as scores of youngsters are recruited by heavily armed and violent gangs, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on situation in Sudan

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on situation in Sudan ENG FRA

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk today called on UN member states to act with urgency towards a ceasefire and to ease the suffering of the Sudanese people.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory ENG FRA

“We are at an inflection point in the crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.  

Nicaragua - Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | HRC

Nicaragua - Human Rights Council ENG FRA

Investigators tasked by the UN Human Rights Council to track alleged grave abuses of power by top Nicaraguan officials on Wednesday insisted that the International Court of Justice should prosecute what they called the systematic and systemic repression of the country’s people.