UNICEF: 145,000 people saved in famine-hit South Sudan

By Parach Mach

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) - Since famine was declared in parts of South Sudan a month ago, the United Nations children’s fund, UNICEF and partners have provided live-saving assistance to more than 145,000 people.

Among the 145,000 people, there were 33,000 children under the age of five, UNICEF said on Monday in a statement.

“With more than a quarter of a million children estimated to be severely malnourished in South Sudan, the scale of this crisis requires us to respond as quickly and as robustly as possible if we are to prevent children from dying,” said Jeremy Hopkins, acting UNICEF representative in South Sudan.

“Through these missions, we are able to provide critical assistance to large numbers of children who we would not otherwise be able to reach.”

About 100,000 people are facing starvation in parts of Unity State in the north while another million are on the brink of famine.

Famine was declared in parts of South Sudan, ravaged by more than three years of civil war, the government and UN agencies said last month.

The UN says $1.6 billion is needed to provide life-saving aid, and it estimates that 5.5 million people will face severe food shortage by July.