Juba: The World Food Programme (WFP) warned that nearly half of South Sudan's population is facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity, as ongoing conflict since March continues to devastate the country.

According to Qatar News Agency, in a statement on Thursday, WFP Representative and Country Director in South Sudan, Mary-Ellen McGroarty, highlighted the escalating violence in Greater Upper Nile region in recent weeks. She emphasized that the intensifying conflict, coupled with deepening political and security divisions, is worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis, with approximately 7.7 million people in South Sudan now facing critical hunger.

McGroarty stated that 40 percent of those affected are located in conflict-hit Greater Upper Nile region, where over 60 percent of the population is suffering from severe food insecurity and cannot provide even a single meal per day for their families.

She noted that the fighting displaced nearly 100,000 people, forcing the suspension of vital food assistance during the lean season. The WFP has been unable to reach more than 213,000 people across six counties due to the ongoing violence, severely hampering humanitarian efforts to prevent widespread famine.