WFP Issues Alarming Warning as Critical Hunger Grips South Sudanese Returnees at Sudan Border

In a stark declaration during a United Nations press briefing in Geneva, Mary-Ellen McGraoarty, the Country Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), emphasized the dire humanitarian crisis faced by South Sudanese returnees from Sudan along the border. McGraoarty revealed that the situation had reached a critical juncture, with an imminent hunger emergency threatening the lives of thousands.

Addressing the UN briefing via video link from Juba, McGraoarty painted a grim picture of the plight faced by the people arriving at the border, recounting harrowing stories of escape that included incidents of robbery and sexual violence. She disclosed that by the time these individuals reached the border, their resources had been depleted, leaving 90 percent of families without food for multiple days. Over the past five months, almost 300,000 people had crossed from Sudan into South Sudan, with families arriving now significantly more vulnerable and food insecure than those who had initially fled the conflict.

Transportation complexities and difficult access, exacerbated by heavy rains during the rainy season, further worsened the situation for these displaced individuals. McGraoarty highlighted that approximately 4,000 people from local host communities had been displaced by floods, and currently, around 12,000 people were residing in transit centers, awaiting transfer.

WFP had been extending assistance to these arrivals, providing essential support such as food and immediate health screening. McGraoarty stressed the urgent need for long-term support to help these returnees rebuild their livelihoods, especially considering that many of them had been living in urban areas of Sudan for years and were now returning to mostly rural areas without necessary skills.

The gravity of the situation was underscored by McGraoarty’s revelation that WFP had received less than half of the funding required this year, resulting in reduced food assistance. People were receiving smaller rations, less than 300 grams per day, pushing them to the brink of starvation. McGraoarty emphasized the need for durable solutions and urged for immediate action, stating that WFP required USD 526 million for the next six months to address this crisis.

Furthermore, McGraoarty noted that alongside South Sudanese returnees, there were Sudanese refugees arriving in Sudan. Despite the challenges, local communities had shown remarkable resilience, welcoming the arrivals and sharing their limited resources with those in need.