5 February 2014 - Up to 7 million people or almost two thirds of South Sudan’s total population are at risk of some level of food insecurity, the United Nations warned today.

Some 3.7 million are already facing acute or emergency levels, which paints a much grimmer picture of a major nutrition crisis than just three weeks ago.

“Markets have collapsed, infrastructure is damaged, foreign traders have fled, commodity supply corridors have been disrupted by violence, and rural populations are unable to bring their crops, livestock and fish to market for sale,” said South Sudan Food and Agriculture Organization Country Director Sue Lautze.

Conflict erupted in the country on 15 December 2013 between the forces of President Salva Kiir and former deputy president Riek Machar.

“South Sudan was already the scene of one of the world’s largest humanitarian operations before the fighting began, and the situation is now deteriorating rapidly,” she added.

Over 870,000 South Sudanese have fled their homes since fighting broke, more than double the 355,000 FAO reported just three weeks ago. At that time, it warned of turmoil in the agricultural sector when preparations should be underway for plantings or harvests.

Meanwhile, the agency has received less than 6 per cent of the updated $77 million it is seeking for an emergency response plan to provide seeds, basic tools, and fishing and community animal health equipment.

The plan would assist 545,000 households in states most affected by fighting and protect food production in less affected areas.

The severe food insecurity will be further exacerbated if farmers miss the planting season beginning in March.

“Missing the main planting season will have serious knock-on effects on food production and availability in the country in 2014 and on into 2015,” said Dominique Burgeon, New York Director of FAO’s Emergency and Rehabilitation Division, who recently visited South Sudan.

“At the moment supply corridors have been disrupted or completely shut down in many areas of the country, and farmers need urgent assistance to access vital agricultural inputs in time,” she said.

Livestock production is threatened by potential disease outbreaks as unvaccinated herds mingle with vaccinated livestock. This is worsened by partial collapse of the cold chain of vaccine storage due to looting and ongoing violence, FAO warned.

To prevent the spread of disease, FAO will equip and train community workers to provide basic health support during migrations and help restore the cold chain.

There are further concerns that many displaced people who have sought shelter along rivers will need to move again due to flood waters as the rainy season approaches, further undermining their food security and recovery of livelihoods.

“Continued violence is obviously hampering the humanitarian response, but FAO will work with local partners on the ground to get vital supplies to vulnerable livestock owners, fishers, farmers and urban populations in the country,” Ms. Lautze said.

UN agencies and non-governmental organizations have revised their overall crisis response plan to $1.27 billion to meet urgent humanitarian needs in the first half of 2014.

Reinforcements continue to arrive to almost double UNMISS strength to nearly 14,000, with additional helicopters and other material on their way.

A contingent of 266 additional Nepalese peacekeepers arrived yesterday with more battalions expected in coming weeks. In December, the Security Council authorized an additional 5,500 troops and 423 police, bringing the total authorized numbers to 12,500 peacekeepers and 1,323 police.