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A30 world news
Dialuna 10 Januari 2022
This will be South Sudan’s hungriest year ever, experts say

(AP) — Nyayiar Kuol “2021 was the worst year across South Sudan have
cradled her severely mal- since independence in the 10 been affected by the floods,
nourished 1-year-old years of the life of this coun- according to the United Na-
daughter as they traveled try and 2022 will be worse. tions, which last year had to
for 16 hours on a crowded Food insecurity is at horrific reduce food aid by half in
barge to the nearest hospi- levels,” said Matthew Hol- most places because of fund-
tal to their home in rural lingworth, country repre- ing constraints, affecting
South Sudan. For months sentative for the World Food some 3 million people.
she had been feeding her Program in South Sudan.
four children just once a Two years of floods have pre-
day, unable to cultivate be- While the latest food secu- vented people from farming
cause of disastrous flood- rity report by aid groups and and killed more than 250,000
ing and without enough the government has yet to be livestock in Jonglei state
food assistance from the released, several aid officials alone, according to the U.N.
government or aid groups. familiar with the situation Food and Agriculture Orga- ers said the number of mal- sions is ongoing fighting
She worries her daughter said preliminary data show nization. nourished children coming between government and
might die. that nearly 8.5 million peo- into the medical center rose opposition-aligned militias in
ple — out of the country’s Some displaced families in from 10 between January the country’s breadbasket in
“I don’t want to think about 12 million — will face severe Old Fangak said ground-up and July to 26 between Au- the southwest.
what could happen,” she said. hunger, an 8% increase from water lilies were their only gust and December, accord-
last year. The officials spoke daily meal. “We eat once a day
Seated on her hospital bed in on condition of anonymity in the morning and then sleep ing to Christina Dak, a health Government spokesman Mi-
worker with the International chael Makuei said some re-
Old Fangak town in hard-hit because they weren’t autho- without food,” said Nyaluak Medical Corps. lief such as medical services
Jonglei state, the 36-year-old rized to speak to the media. Chuol. The 20-year-old like continues but there is only
Kuol tried to calm her daugh- some others lost her fishing While flooding is the main so much help that national
ter while blaming the gov- Aid officials say worst affect- net in the floods. When she driver of hunger, it’s com- authorities can give. “The
ernment for not doing more. ed Fangak county is now as has enough money, she pays a pounded by government floods have destroyed crops,
Nearly two years have passed bad as Pibor county was this boy to fish for her. deadlock as the country’s two what can the government do
since South Sudan formed time last year, when global main political parties try to in that case?” he said.
a coalition government as food security experts said Many residents from Jon- share power.
part of a fragile peace deal to some 30,000 Pibor residents glei have fled to neighbor- Observers’ frustration is
end a five-year civil war that were likely in famine. ing states for food and shel- Local officials in Malakal growing. In a speech to the
plunged pockets of the coun- ter but have found little re- aligned with the opposition U.N. Security Council in
try into famine, and yet Kuol During trips to three South spite. In Malakal town, some accused members of long- December, the head of the
said nothing has changed. Sudan states in December, 3,000 displaced people were time President Salva Kiir’s U.N. mission in South Su-
some civilians and govern- crammed into abandoned party of undermining them dan, Nicholas Haysom,
“If this country was really ment officials expressed con- buildings or sheltered under by blocking political appoin- warned of a collapse in the
at peace, there wouldn’t be cern to The Associated Press trees with nothing to eat. tees and not letting them fire country’s peace deal if all par-
hunger like there is now,” she that people were beginning “We’re eating leaves and look corrupt staff, making it hard ties didn’t renew their politi-
said. to starve to death. like skeletons,” Tut Jaknyang to govern and provide ser- cal will.
told the AP. The 60-year-old
More people will face hunger In October, a mother and her has received food assistance vices. Jill Seaman, who works in
this year in South Sudan than child died in Pulpham vil- just once since fleeing floods “We’re not working as one Old Fangak with the South
ever, said aid groups. That’s lage because they didn’t have in Jonglei in July, he said. He team. No one’s looking out Sudan Medical Relief and
because of the worst floods food, said Jeremiah Gatmai, and others said a sack of do- for the people,” said Byinj has more than 30 years of lo-
in 60 years, as well as conflict the humanitarian represen- nated rice had to be shared Erngst, the health minister in cal experience, concluded:
and the sluggish implemen- tative for the government in among 20 people. Upper Nile state. “There are no resources, no
tation of the peace agreement Old Fangak. harvest, and no cows, there’s
that has denied much of the North of Malakal in the town Adding to the political ten- no place to look for food.”
country basic services. Nearly 1 million people of Wau Shilluk, health work-

West African regional leaders impose new sanctions on Mali

military pressure, the region- only targeted junta leadership voters in a referendum, a
al bloc known as ECOWAS In a statement, regional lead- with travel bans and asset lengthy endeavor that would
activated its standby force, ers called this timeframe “to- freezes. pave the way for new local
saying it “will have to be tally unacceptable” and said it and legislative elections be-
ready for any eventuality.” “simply means that an illegit- After overthrowing Mali’s fore any presidential vote.
imate military transition gov- democratically elected presi-
The sanctions mark the ernment will take the Malian dent, coup leader Goita had The French military, which
steepest consequences for people hostage during the promised to swiftly return helped push the militants
Mali to date, and include next five years.” the country to democratic from power in northern
land and air border closures rule. Doubts deepened about Mali in 2013, is now in the
with other countries belong- The business sanctions won’t his intentions, though, after process of drawing down its
ing to ECOWAS, according apply to essentials like phar- he effectively launched a sec- troop presence in Mali. Many
to a statement released after a maceuticals, and medical ond coup nine months later, fear their departure will only
(AP) — West African re- day-long meeting in Ghana’s supplies and equipment to forcing out the chosen tran- deepen the crisis despite the
gional leaders imposed capital. fight COVID-19. Petroleum sitional civilian leaders and presence of U.N. peacekeep-
new sanctions Sunday on products and electricity are becoming president himself. ers and regional forces bol-
Mali, suspending most The junta led by Col. Assimi also excluded, the regional stering Malian troops’ efforts.
commerce and financial Goita initially had agreed to bloc said. Mali’s junta maintains that
aid to the country after its hold a new election in late elections can’t be held be- Critics of the junta fear that
military rulers said they February, 18 months after it But all of Mali’s financial cause of deepening insecu- the political turmoil will fur-
would stay in power for first seized power. The mili- assets held in the regional rity across the country, where ther undermine the Malian
four more years instead of tary leadership now says the bloc’s central bank and other Islamic extremists have been military’s response to Islamic
holding an election next next presidential election will commercial banks will be fighting a decade-long in- extremist attacks at a time
month as promised. take place instead in 2026, blocked. And ECOWAS will surgency. They also say it’s when they will increasingly
In a veiled threat at possible giving Goita four more years suspend its financial aid to essential to draft a new con- be bearing the responsibility
in power. Mali. Previous sanctions had stitution and put it before for fighting militants.