Returnees in Kajo-Keji County engaged in Tearfund farming initiative, with support from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank -CFGB. (Photo: Tearfund).

The Country Director of Tearfund has appealed for a joint effort from the government and partners, to address the root causes of poverty and eliminate the acute food crisis, as the country marks World Food Day.

Rama Anthony said the charity organization has distributed food assistance to over 24,000 households in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.

He also said they provided cash assistance to hundreds of households in Lainya County of Central Equatoria to address hunger related issues.

“We need to rally together to deal with the root causes of poverty in our country,” he said to Eye Radio.

“I think if we begin to address some of those challenges, for instance in this conversation we have said our farmers are unable to settle down and produce. If we are able to deal with things like that to eliminate the acute crisis that we see in the country, I think we will begin to make a difference.”

South Sudan continues to face dire humanitarian situation, with more than half of its population categorized as food insecure.

A report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) projected that over 7 million people are at risk of severe acute food insecurity in Fangak, Pigi and Ayod counties of Jonglei State between April and July.

Other areas of the same category included Pibor Administrative Area, Cueibet and Rumbek North counties of Lakes State.

World Food Day is commemorated annually on October 16, to highlight the millions of people worldwide who cannot afford a healthy diet and the need for regular access to nutritious food.

This year’s event is marked under the theme: Leave No One Behind, at a time of multiple global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, climate change, rising prices and international tensions.

Tearfund is a Christian charity that partners with churches in more than 50 of the world’s poorest countries, to  respond to disasters and conflicts, as well as supporting those in greatest need throughout the recovery process.

The Christian charity also partners with local churches and organizations, mobilizing resources and empowering communities to lift themselves out of poverty.