The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has raised a red flag saying a crisis is looming in five South Sudanese states as a result of conflicts, hunger and flooding.

 NRC Country Director in South Sudan Alexander Davey decried the situation adding that it could degenerate into a full-blown crisis if mitigation measures will not come into effect. He mentioned Bor town in Jonglei State as one of the areas where humanitarian assistance was urgently required.

“What we are seeing is misery on a massive scale threatening to unfold in South Sudan. Displaced people in Bor town, Jonglei State have told us that their biggest fear now is the return of conflict.

“We have seen families struggling to plant new crops because the land is still swampy from last year’s floods and new rains are just weeks away. Yet projections of the dire food situation are still being contested.’’

Davey claimed that food for the hungry had been looted and deliberately kept away from those who needed it the most.’ He added that the situation was worsening that there was no more time to wait.  

Davey warned, “We are past the stage of early warning – this emergency demands urgent action. An increased humanitarian response will be needed in South Sudan over the coming months to prevent another wave of displacement and death.

 “All stakeholders, including the government and the UN should lead an organised and adequately resourced humanitarian response to safely deliver assistance to those who need it the most.’’

Davey called for a lasting solution to end the perennial conflict that destabilises South Sudan every year. According to the NRC boss, it would be needless to continue providing aids without planning for the future, especially on how to put the nagging conflicts and violence to rest.

“If we don’t also increase efforts to bring back stability and resilience, millions will suffer year after year. The people of South Sudan have suffered enough and deserve better.”

The warning comes after a January 2021 report by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) which revealed that 8.3 million people would demand humanitarian aid in South Sudan this year.