South Sudan no longer classified as in famine, U.N. says

Record ID: 896444

  • Title: South Sudan no longer classified as in famine, U.N. says
  • Date: 21st June 2017
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JUNE 21, 2017) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS ENTRANCE WITH FLAGS UNITED NATIONS SIGN VARIOUS OF WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME (WFP) PANEL DISCUSSION IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR, STEPHEN O'BRIEN, SAYING: "The new IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) assessment in South Sudan which was just released today, shows that famine is no longer occurring in those two counties - Leer and Mayendit - and that further deterioration into famine was averted in two other counties in former Unity State." VARIOUS OF STATES' MEMBERS AND U.N. ORGANISATIONS' DELEGATIONS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR, STEPHEN O'BRIEN, SAYING: "But I do urge caution as this does not mean we have turned the corner on averting famine. The situation remains extremely vulnerable in South Sudan and approximately 45,000 people are still expected to be facing IPC 5 or humanitarian catastrophe." VARIOUS OF STATES' MEMBERS AND U.N. ORGANISATIONS' DELEGATIONS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR, STEPHEN O'BRIEN, SAYING: "The number of people in IPC phase 4, that's one step away from famine, has increased from one million to 1.7 million and the number of people severely food insecure has increased from five to six million. Across South Sudan, more people are on the brink of famine today than they were in February." VARIOUS OF WFP PANEL DISCUSSION IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) OXFAM INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN DIRECTOR, NIGEL TIMMINS, SAYING: "What is appalling is that it took a threat of a famine to get significant international response. As a community we seem to have empowered famine declarations and this has led to some good results but it also seems to give the perception that anything before famine is acceptable - it isn't." WFP PANEL DISCUSSION IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 5th July 2017 15:46
  • Keywords: South Sudan famine malnutrition FAO WFP United Nations
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / GANYIEL UNITY STATE AND KERERI VILLAGE, TEREKEKA COUNTY, SOUTH SUDAN
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / GANYIEL UNITY STATE AND KERERI VILLAGE, TEREKEKA COUNTY, SOUTH SUDAN
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016M8351J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:South Sudan is no longer classified as being in famine but the situation remains extremely vulnerable said United Nations Under-Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator on Wednesday (June 21).
    However, 45,000 people are still expected to be facing famine-like conditions and more people are on the brink of famine today than there were in February, Stephen O'Brien said.
    Two years after emerging as an independent state, the oil-rich country was plunged into conflict in December 2013 as rivalry between President Salva Kiir and his then-vice president, Riek Machar, exploded into violence.
    The conflict has prevented many farmers from planting and harvesting their crops. Hyperinflation, which reached more than 800 percent last year, has put the price of imported food beyond the reach of many.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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