Joint Local Statement on the food security situation in South Sudan following the release of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Report
The Heads of Mission of the United Kingdom, United States, Norway, the Netherlands and the European Union Delegation, have issued this statement following the release of the government’s report on 18 December into the food security and nutrition situation in South Sudan.
We are deeply concerned with the deteriorating food security situation in the country. We recognise that fully addressing South Sudan’s humanitarian needs requires partnership between the donors, humanitarian agencies, and the Government of South Sudan.
We therefore call upon the Government of South Sudan, without delay:
- to take immediate measures to de-escalate the violence that is affecting communities’ access to livelihoods, food and other support. We encourage President Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice-President Dr Riek Machar, and relevant Ministers, to take direct personal leadership on this issue.
- to provide safe, unhindered access for humanitarian agencies and workers to reach people in need, and to remove access, bureaucratic and logistic barriers. Whilst we accept that responding to COVID-19 requires additional protective measures, this should not be used to justify undue processes for travel and timely access.
- to ensure all attacks on humanitarian workers cease and any that do happen are fully investigated in line with the Statement of Principles and Actions paper (Humanitarian Donors November 2019).
- to acknowledge the full extent of the food insecurity and nutrition crisis in South Sudan as identified during the IPC process (October 2020 – July 2021) and detailed in the recent statement of the USG Humanitarian Affairs to the UNSC.
This will allow the humanitarian assistance community to scale-up assistance on evidence-based needs. Of particular concern is that children are more likely to be at risk of dying in the current situation. Over 30% of children between the ages of 6 months to 5 years in Pibor County are suffering from acute malnutrition now, which is double the level that is considered an emergency.
As donors, we stand ready to support the people of South Sudan in responding to this crisis.
