11th February, 2015
Only a lasting peace settlement in South Sudan can create the conditions for food security and development, says a leading aid and development NGO.
The comments from Oxfam, which has longstanding regional involvement, came in response to the release of the latest Integrated Phase Classification (IPC), or food security analysis, on South Sudan.
Oxfam’s South Sudan country director, Zlatko Gegic, said: "The latest figures on food security demonstrate that South Sudan is still in jeopardy. The classification has stayed at a serious point for a number of months ” and getting food to where it is needed is extremely hard.
"We are seriously concerned that a lack of food may peak in May and June (2015), reaching emergency levels. If we wait until then, it may be too late. The situation has improved in some areas due to enormous humanitarian efforts in providing aid, but other regions are getting worse and people cannot safely access aid because of fighting.
"By the end of February, $US600 million is needed to take advantage of the dry season when more people can be reached by road, and supplies prepositioned for the rest of the year. This will help us save more lives.
"The only way to end the violence and suffering of the people of South Sudan is by reaching a lasting peace deal. We appeal to all parties to the conflict to deliver on their promises."
– Ekklesia
