WFP and UNICEF jointly support South Sudan to scale up nutrition

Launch of the UNICEF/WFP Joint Nutrition Response Plan for South Sudan in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. Pictured, the official launch in Freedom Square. © UNICEF / McIlwaine

On 9 September 2015, the South Sudan Ministry of Health supported the launch of a World Food Programme and UNICEF Joint Strategic Nutrition Response Plan at an event in Aweil, Bahr el Ghazal state. The plan for the period 2015-2016 builds on their joint approach which began in 2014 for which a one year report was also launched at the event.

The joint nutrition response plan covers all states in South Sudan and aims to reach over 2 million people, with a focus on children under 5 and pregnant and breastfeeding women. It will look to engage more local and government partners, and improve their capacity to treat malnutrition. The nutrition response plan will also work to address the root causes of malnutrition, such as poverty, adequate water and sanitation, and infant and young child feeding practices.

“Every two minutes in South Sudan another child becomes severely malnourished. Last year we helped avert a famine. Now we must increase our efforts to avoid a catastrophic loss of young children’s lives,” said Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF Representative in South Sudan.

Other activities to mark the launch included a broadcast on Radio Mirayas Breakfast show and a march with local residents, including organized forces, Police, Fire brigade, Wildlife, Prisons Service, civil society organisations and international humanitarian organisations from Sika-hadid on to freedom square singing songs of eradicating malnutrition among children under 5 years of age.

Learn more: UNICEF, Gurtong, United Nations Mission in South Sudan