SOUTH SUDAN / FOOD INSECURITY

United Nations food agencies are ramping up their relief efforts in South Sudan, warning that the fighting there threatens to increase hunger and unravel the modest gains made in food security in the two years since the country seceded from Sudan and became the world’s youngest nation. UNMISS

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Production Date: 13 January 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION - FAO; WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME - WFP; UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN – UNMISS
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: U140113b

Description

STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / FOOD INSECURITY
TRT: 1.13
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: NATS

DATELINE: 11 JANUARY 2014, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

Shotlist

1. Various shots, food distribution
2. Various shots, IDPs in camp
3. Med shot, IDPs entering gate of the camp
4. Wide shot, queue for registration
5. Close up, people queuing
6. Wide shot, IDP camp
7. Med shot, UN peacekeepers on watch
8. Wide shot, UN armed vehicle on the road

Storyline

United Nations food agencies are ramping up their relief efforts in South Sudan, warning that the fighting there threatens to increase hunger and unravel the modest gains made in food security in the two years since the country seceded from Sudan and became the world’s youngest nation.

Some 355,000 people were driven from their homes since the conflict erupted a month ago between President Salva Kiir’s forces and those of former deputy president Riek Machar, throwing into turmoil the agricultural sector at a time when preparations should be underway for plantings or harvests.

The conflict is affecting major supply routes, displacing traders and leading to rising food and fuel prices, along with the breakdown of local markets which are crucial to rural farmers, fishers and livestock-dependent populations.

Under the UN Crisis Response Plan, FAO and its partners are seeking $61 million for crucial efforts to get seeds, livestock vaccines, fishing gear and other agricultural inputs and services to vulnerable rural and urban families whose production and income activities are being disrupted.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a new $57.8-million emergency operation to provide food aid for displaced over the next three months, including specialized nutritional support for new mothers and young children who are most at risk from a disruption in their food supply.

Meanwhile, UNMISS continues to protect nearly 60,000 civilians inside 10 bases across the country, and is creating a new site in Juba, where 30,000 IDPs are already sheltering at two UN locations.

Aid agencies are extremely concerned about reports of violence against civilians and aid workers, and the looting of humanitarian compounds and commandeering of vehicles.