JUBA — Norway has announced an additional USD 12.7 million in funding to support the World Food Programme’s (WFP) emergency food assistance and resilience-building efforts in South Sudan, as the country faces one of its worst hunger crises in years.
The new contribution, equivalent to NOK 128.6 million, comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions in South Sudan, where around six million people are currently struggling to access enough food.
According to the United Nations, the number of people facing acute hunger could rise to more than half of the population within the next six months.
“The situation in South Sudan is dramatic. Six million people do not have enough to eat. Norway is therefore strengthening its support for WFP’s life-saving work,” said Norway’s Minister of International Development, Åsmund Aukrust.
South Sudan’s humanitarian crisis has been intensified by escalating violence, severe flooding caused by heavy rains, and large refugee inflows from the ongoing war in neighboring Sudan. These factors, combined with economic collapse and climate change, have left millions increasingly vulnerable to food insecurity.
Minister Aukrust said Norway’s support aims not only to address immediate needs but also to reduce long-term vulnerability. “Norway will continue to contribute to stabilising the situation, by providing emergency assistance and supporting longer-term efforts to make the population less vulnerable to hunger in the future,” he said.
Norway has been one of WFP’s key partners in South Sudan for many years. The latest agreement is designed to ensure that life-saving aid reaches the most vulnerable populations, while also supporting initiatives that strengthen community resilience against future shocks.
The WFP remains one of the largest humanitarian actors in South Sudan, delivering food assistance, nutrition support, and livelihood programs across the country as needs continue to rise.
