UN humanitarian chief warns of famine in South Sudan

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher on Friday warned of famine in South Sudan.



"The world's youngest nation stands at a dangerous crossroads. Conflict up. Displacement up. Hunger up. Disease up. Attacks on aid workers up," Fletcher told the Security Council in a briefing on the situation in South Sudan.



Two-thirds of the population in the country needs humanitarian support this year, yet the world body's humanitarian plan for South Sudan, which requires 1.46 billion U.S. dollars, is only 22 percent funded, he said.



"I therefore fear my next briefing to you on South Sudan will speak of famine," he told the Security Council via a video link.



More than 7.5 million people will need food assistance this year. All of this is unfolding as floods are expected to continue, cutting communities off and hitting livelihoods, he said.



Hunger across South Sudan is tightening its grip. Emergency levels of food insecurity are expected for some populations across all of South Sudan's 10 states during the lean season from now through July, he warned.