Millions in South Sudan at risk of hunger due to conflict, displacement, and high food prices

A year after South Sudan voted to become the world’s newest country, the United Nations (UN) is calling the food security situation in that country “alarming”.

According to the UN, conflict, poor infrastructure, large numbers of returnees and high food prices are contributing to food insecurity for millions of South Sudanese.  

The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS Net) – an organization that analyzes information around food security and identifies future trouble areas – estimates that as many as 3 million people will be affected by food shortages in that country this year.

Unity State

Unity State, which borders Sudan and has seen violence clashes over the last year, is one of the states at particular risk.

For the last two years, Canadian Foodgrains Bank and World Relief Canada (WRC) have been supporting food security projects in the region, helping farmers produce more food for themselves and their communities through seed and tool distribution and agricultural training.

Unfortunately, conflict has made working in the area difficult, says Siggi Holzhaeuer, a program officer at the Foodgrains Bank who visited the project in late 2011.

“The projects have been unable to operate fully for the last few months due to various conflicts,” he says.

Staff are often confined to Bentiu (the provincial capital) and cannot visit the project sites due to violence. In fact, of the three counties slated to take part in the program, only one has been operational in the last year.

According to the International Crisis Group – an organization committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict – the challenges in Unity State “are unparalleled in South Sudan.”

The group cites “territorial disputes, cross-border tensions, economic isolation, development deficits and a still tenuous North-South relationship” as fodder for conflict in the area.

Baby Steps

Despite these challenges, Holzhaeuer says the project is doing important work and small improvements are being made.

“In a situation this difficult, we have to measure our accomplishments in little tiny steps,” he says.

Despite having travelled extensively in the developing world, Holzhaeuer was surprised at the conditions in Unity State.

“It wasn’t a typical situation that I was used to seeing,” he explains, “It was sad to see everything lush, but so little in the markets. It seemed like people were starting from scratch. There was a total absence of schools and only one clinic in the area.”

According to Holzhaeuer, one of the most positive aspects of the project was the connection with South Sudan’s Ministry of Agriculture.

“The ministry of Agriculture has knowledgeable staff, but few resources,” he says.

“Working together has been mutually beneficial since staff from the ministry of Agriculture has the know-how to train women in agricultural techniques and World Relief Sudan has strong community connections.”

Together with the Foodgrains Bank and WRC, they have helped local families grow a wider variety of vegetables rather than focusing only on cereal crops.

“The women who participated in the project were very proud to show us their eggplants, tomatoes, and beans – vegetables that you could not find in the market,” says Holzhaeuer.

Traditionally, people from this area made a living as agro-pastoralists, who would grow enough food for five or six months of the year and then live off their livestock for the remaining months.

But this way of life has been interrupted, Holzhaeuer says.

“Traditional trading routes were severed after separation. Grain is either not available or double or triple the price.”

In the past, much of the sorghum – a staple crop in Unity State – was brought in from Khartoum in the north, but now many trade routes have been blocked. Sorghum and other cereal crops are now being transported in from places like Uganda, which drives up the price.

Conflict

Violence is also making it difficult for people to make a living. Earlier this year in Buaw, one of the communities involved in the food security project, there was an attack in the market that killed nine people and left the market destroyed.

“The market area was completely charred,” says Holzhaeuer, “people are starting from scratch – all that is left are a few burned out generators and freezers.”

Returns

People returning to the area also add pressure to an already fragile food system.

Since October 2010, over 350,000 have returned to South Sudan, with over 87,000 returning to Unity State. Many of these people are coming from the North, where they went after being displaced during years of civil war.

Conflict in neighbouring states, such as South Kordofan, has also displaced people within South Sudan further increasing pressure on the food system.

According to FEWS Net, crisis conditions are likely to continue in Unity State until at least March due to ongoing conflict and increased pressure on the food system from people returning to the area.

Looking Ahead

With violence expected to interrupt upcoming harvests and lower than normal harvests in 2011, the Foodgrains Bank is monitoring the situation in South Sudan.

“We’re very concerned about the food situation in South Sudan,” says Grant Hillier, Director of International Programs at the Foodgrains Bank, adding that FEWS net is expecting the “lean season” – the time between planting and harvest when last year’s crop has run out – to come in March, two months earlier than usual.

“We’re in consultation with our members and partners on the ground looking for the best way respond to the needs in that country,” he says.

Top image: Participants from the agricultural training program gather.
Second image: Siggi Holzhaeuer visits with project participants in Unity State.
Third image: Project participants at a demonstration plot.
Fourth image: Poor roads make air travel between Juba and Unity State necessary.