In Numbers
1.69 million internally displaced people (OCHA estimates)
714,882 South Sudanese refugees (UNHCR estimates)
186,660 people seeking shelter with the UN (UNMISS estimates)
2.8 million people in emergency or crisis level food insecurity (IPC, January to March 2016)
Highlights
- WFP kicks off general food distributions in Northern Bahr el Ghazal to support 200,000 households through lean season.
- Market price monitoring indicates continued rising trends of staple food costs.
WFP’s Activities
General food distributions (GFD) have commenced in Northern Bahr el Ghazal to provide food assistance through the lean season to over 200,000 people whose food security situation has deteriorated due to high prices and the collapsing economy. Next week, WFP is planning to start GFD in Eastern Equatoria State to about 223,000 people. At the same time, Food for Assets programmes are ongoing to support food insecure populations through the lean season while building productive assets. WFP is preparing to support the construction of 20km of roads through its Food for Assets programme under the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative. The road will connect Maji in Budi with Natpotpot in Kapoeta, Eastern Equatoria State. Over 160mt of food assistance will be provided to participants in the project.
WFP’s latest price market bulletin highlights the continued rising trend of foods costs and other commodities. In the past three months, the minimum food basket cost has climbed 62 percent, and 260 percent since the same time last year. This has translated into reduced access to staple foods for poor and vulnerable households and rising food insecurity.