Why we work in South Sudan
Since the start of conflict, South Sudan has been battling severe food shortages. In 2014, the country teetered on the brink of famine. Millions of children and families had nothing to eat, while violent conflict raged around them.
In early 2017, famine was officially declared in the country. Although no longer categorised as famine, the situation remains critical. Children continue to be especially vulnerable to malnutrition, which makes them more likely to die from other diseases, such malaria and cholera.
How conflict is contributing to hunger
The conflict in South Sudan has had a devastating impact on food security. Since the outbreak of renewed fighting in Juba in 2016, the conflict has now spread to other parts of the country including Central and Eastern Equatoria – an area often described as South Sudan’s food basket.
As well as directly destroying crops, the conflict has caused farmers to flee their homes, preventing them from planting or harvesting. Fighting has also made trade routes more difficult to access, driving up food prices, making it more difficult for aid agencies to distribute food supplies and resulting in some areas being completely cut off from all food supplies. Markets have been lea markets empty.
What we're doing to help
Save the Children is responding to the hunger crisis in South Sudan through mass screening for malnutrition. We've set up health centres where dangerously malnourished children can receive urgent treatment, and we run feeding programs to get children back to a healthy weight. We also have follow-up outpatient programs, and we're training community nutrition workers to visit people in their homes.
We're training farmers in better farming techniques and providing them with staple crop seeds. And we're providing mothers with short-cycle crops and vegetable seeds.
Learn more about how you can help children in South Sudan.