JUBA, South Sudan, March 20, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Ertharin Cousin, accompanied by the United States Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome, David Lane, will make a three-day trip to South Sudan from today.
Ms. Cousin and Ambassador Lane are visiting to get an update on the troubling food security situation and to raise awareness of the plight of civilians affected by conflict in the young nation. An estimated 2.5 million people are facing acute hunger, unsure of where their next meal is coming from.
Conflict erupted in South Sudan in late 2013 and has displaced 2 million people, disrupted livelihoods and sharply worsened levels of hunger and malnutrition. WFP fears that food insecurity will only get worse as we move into the lean season without an end to the conflict in sight.
Over the next three days, the WFP Executive Director and the US Ambassador will meet national and local officials, and families directly affected by the conflict.
WFP aims to assist 3 million people in South Sudan this year, including life-saving emergency assistance for the conflict-affected, nutrition support for mothers and children, food assistance for refugees, school meals, and asset-creation initiatives aimed at helping communities improve their food security and resilience.
Ms. Cousin will hold a media briefing before departing on Sunday.
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