South Sudan’s President Kiir has appealed to the United Nations for support in bolstering the nation’s agricultural system to address the pressing issue of food insecurity. The call came during a meeting held in Juba on Tuesday, where President Kiir met with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Qu Dongyu, along with Dr. Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), and Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP).
The meeting aimed to assess both the food security situation in South Sudan and the challenges faced by those fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Minister of Agriculture Josephine Joseph Lagu revealed that the UN team’s presence in the country is geared towards strengthening collaborative efforts to enhance food production through the implementation of new technologies and investments.
Addressing the urgency of the situation, Dr. Alvaro Lario of IFAD emphasized the need for immediate action and investment in resilience to avert a looming food crisis. The leaders from FAO, IFAD, and WFP echoed this sentiment and stressed the importance of working together to find lasting solutions.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to facilitating humanitarian efforts, the Acting Foreign Minister assured that South Sudan is creating a conducive environment for the UN and other humanitarian agencies to have unrestricted access to all parts of the nation.
As the country faces increasing challenges related to food insecurity, President Kiir’s call for international cooperation and support signals a determined effort to address the issue and improve the overall food production capacity of South Sudan. The meeting with the UN officials marks a crucial step towards finding sustainable solutions to the pressing food crisis.
