By Matik Kueth
King News 26 Sept Juba – World Vision International has reported that more than 1.6 million children in South Sudan under the age of five will likely suffer from severe malnutrition in 2024 at the launch of the “Enough Campaign” on Wednesday to end child hunger at Dr. John Garang Nursery and Primary School in Juba.
The Country Director for World Vision South Sudan, Mesfin Loha, said child hunger needs immediate attention as the country faces food insecurity.
“Here in South Sudan, over 5.8 million people experience high levels of food insecurity, and more than 1.6 million children under five years of age are expected to suffer from malnutrition in 2024 alone. World Vision, therefore, recognizes that child hunger requires immediate action,” Loha said.
He stated that World Vision initiated a feeding program in a number of South Sudanese schools to improve the nutritional quality of kids in the most disadvantaged communities and to inspire more people to take action collectively.
Mesfin Loha, World Vision Country Director South Sudan speaking during the “Enough Campaign” launch on Wednesday at Dr. John Garang Primary School, Juba (Photo Credit: Madrama James, King News)
Loha added, “With enough partners like you and many others who couldn’t join today, we can build a world where every child enjoys enough nourishing food so that they can thrive. By working together, we can ensure that there is enough nutritious food, enough government money, enough political will, enough to end child hunger and malnutrition.”
He pointed out that addressing the underlying causes of poverty via joint efforts is required in order to eradicate hunger and malnutrition in South Sudan.
According to him, the underlying causes of hunger and malnutrition are complex and cross-sectoral, necessitating shared accountability from all the stakeholders.
He noted that, “It takes us to join hands because it takes a nation, it takes us all, it takes our heads, it takes our hearts, and it takes our hands to end hunger and malnutrition and pave a bright pathway for the future generation of children and communities in South Sudan.”
However, Loha reaffirmed World Vision’s commitment to helping create a South Sudan where kids are safe, healthy, and able to reach their full potential.