AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - A million people at risk of hunger if the political crisis is not solved

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - The food crisis in South Sudan threatens to turn into a catastrophe and a million people will risk starvation between January and March next year if nothing is done urgently to resolve the political gridlock that is paralyzing the life of the young State. This is what is said in the report titled "From crisis to catastrophe" by various humanitarian agencies operating in the Country.
"So far the soft approach of the international community in the peace negotiations has failed to secure a meaningful cease-fire", the report said. Despite the ceasefire agreements signed by representatives of the government of President Salva Kiir and by rebellions linked to former Vice President Riek Machar, the situation has not stabilized yet and the possibility remains that the fighting will resume on a large scale, as confirmed by the rearmament of both parties (see Fides 05/09/2014).
"This is not a crisis due to natural disaster but caused by man" says Tariq Reibl, head of Oxfam's projects in South Sudan, one of the 10 NGOs that signed the report. The civil war broke out in December 2013 causing 1.4 million civilians to flee. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 07/10/2014)