3.6 mln estimated highly food insecure in South Sudan: WFP

Some 3.6 million people are estimated to be highly food insecure in South Sudan during the ongoing lean season, the World Food Program (WFP) said on Monday.

A WFP analysis says food security situation in the war-torn country has continued to deteriorate, with the number of people projected to face acute food insecurity likely to rise to 4.6 million in the coming months.

"Needs are expected to increase further in the first quarter of next year, with likely 4.6 million people in need of assistance," the WFP said in a report received on Monday.

The WFP said it is scaling up its response to the declining food and nutrition security situation in the country, reaching over 3.4 million people so far this year and aiming to reach 4.1 million by mid-2017.

The WFP said its mobile teams recently concluded distributions of one-month food rations to approximately 50,000 people in the southwestern town of Yei, where people have been affected by fighting and violence.

Renewed fighting erupted in South Sudan between rival political factions in early July. Hundreds of people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced since then.

The WFP said it would launch a "special operation" for the rehabilitation of the road from Kosti in White Nile state to Renk in Upper Nile state, which it says is critical for the delivery of life-saving food assistance.

The 2.5 million U.S. dollar project is expected to be approved in the coming week.

South Sudan's civil war since its outbreak in December 2013 has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than two million people.

In the wake of recent fighting in July between government troops led by President Salva Kiir and troops loyal to sacked First Vice President Riek Machar, more than 60,000 people have sought refuge in neighboring countries. Enditem