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Hundreds of thousands face critical food shortage in South Sudan: Red Cross

Xinhua, December 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese face severe food shortages and an alarming hunger situation after two years of fighting in the country, humanitarian agencies warned here on Friday.

The latest warning was jointly issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), who recently hosted the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

"The level of hunger is severe. Medical needs are high. Life in South Sudan is both chaotic and dangerous, and we are trying to help by improving access to food and health care," said Juerg Eglin, head of delegation for ICRC in South Sudan.

According to the humanitarian agencies, though a peace agreement has been signed, the humanitarian consequences of two years of conflict remain extremely concerning.

Aside from massive food needs, many people are separated from their loved ones and millions still desperately hope to return to their homes, they said, adding that for many in South Sudan the last two years have been a life on the run -- in search of food and health care and from the dangers of warfare and sexual assault.

According to latest UN figures, some 2.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes since conflict erupted two years ago in the African state. Endit