The International Monetary fund’s (IMF) executive board has granted the government of South Sudan an emergency fund of $114.8 million to assist with the pressing balance of payments issues resulting from the increasing food insecurity and decreasing foreign exchange reserves.
Due to four years of continuous and severe flooding, along with the aftermath of Russia’s war in Ukraine and the recent Covid-19 pandemic, the already dire humanitarian crisis in South Sudan has worsened significantly. As a result, approximately two-thirds of the population, or 8.3 million individuals, are facing acute food shortages due to the combination of food price hikes and flooding.
Around two-thirds of the population, equivalent to 8.3 million people, are facing acute food shortages due to the joint impact of flooding and an increase in food prices.
In a statement, the IMF announced that South Sudan would receive emergency funding through the Rapid Credit Facility’s Food Shock Window. This financing would enable the country to address food insecurity, maintain spending on social and growth-enhancing programs, and increase reserves.
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