International
South Sudan close to famine, UN says
After more than four years of civil war and failed ceasefires, South Sudan is facing its ‘toughest year on record’ and is close to famine so says members of a working group including South Sudanese and U.N. officials.
Aid groups say almost two-thirds of the population of the the world’s youngest nation will need food aid this year to keep off starvation and malnutrition.
“The situation is extremely fragile, and we are close to seeing another famine. The projections are stark. If we ignore them, we’ll be faced with a growing tragedy,” said Serge Tissot, from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in South Sudan.
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The development is coming weeks after United Nations revealed that armed groups in South Sudan have released more than 300 child soldiers as part of an ongoing project to free at least 400 children.
According to a statement by the UN mission in the country (UNMISS), the 311 children, including 87 girls, will now begin re-integrating into their communities.
Research by the UN mission reveals that the South Sudan Liberation Movement had recruited 563 children, while some 137 were associated with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In-Opposition.
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