Germany injects €28.5 million to tackle food insecurity in South Sudan

JUBA – The Government of Germany has contributed an additional EUR 28.5 million to the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) operations to assist tens of thousands of people affected by the worsening food insecurity and nutrition crisis across South Sudan.

In a statement seen by Sudan Post on Friday, the contribution is particularly timely, as an estimated 7.56 million people—more than half the country’s population—are projected to face acute levels of food insecurity at the height of the lean season between April and July 2026.

It said that Food insecurity in South Sudan is primarily driven by conflict, displacement, climatic shocks, low agricultural productivity, and economic challenges. However, in regions where peace has been sustained and access maintained, improvements in food security have been observed.

“We appreciate Germany’s continued generosity in supporting the people of South Sudan,” said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP Country Director in South Sudan. “While lasting peace and national government investments are the foundations for ending hunger, this funding will significantly enhance ongoing efforts to assist those in need at a very critical time of the year.”

Gregory Bledjian, Ambassador of Germany to South Sudan, stated that Germany’s utmost priority is to support the most vulnerable populations, especially women and children.

“In times of heightened insecurity and growing humanitarian needs, we remain committed to supporting the people of South Sudan and call for unhindered humanitarian access. We thank the United Nations World Food Programme for providing lifesaving assistance and empowering local communities across South Sudan and would like to support its important work through this additional funding.”

Malnutrition is worsening in South Sudan, currently affecting 2.1 million children as well as over one million pregnant and breastfeeding women, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report. WFP will allocate a portion of the funding to provide specialised nutritious food and nutrition education to these vulnerable groups.

Furthermore, WFP will scale up initiatives that help address the underlying causes of food insecurity. These include cash start-up funds, training for income-generation activities, and assistance in establishing village savings and loans associations.

Germany is a long-standing partner of WFP, providing support to address both humanitarian and long-term needs, targeting the root causes of hunger. The latest contribution brings Germany’s total funding to WFP’s activities in South Sudan to more than US$200 million since 2021.