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| South Sudan declares famine in Unity State | South Sudan declares famine in Unity State |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A famine has been declared in parts of South Sudan, the first to be announced in any part of the world in six years. | A famine has been declared in parts of South Sudan, the first to be announced in any part of the world in six years. |
| The government and the United Nations report that some 100,000 people are facing starvation, with a million more on the brink of famine. | The government and the United Nations report that some 100,000 people are facing starvation, with a million more on the brink of famine. |
| A combination of civil war and an economic collapse have been blamed. | A combination of civil war and an economic collapse have been blamed. |
| There have been warnings of famine in Yemen, Somalia and north-eastern Nigeria, but South Sudan is the first to declare one. | There have been warnings of famine in Yemen, Somalia and north-eastern Nigeria, but South Sudan is the first to declare one. |
| The famine is currently affecting parts of the Unity state in South Sudan, but humanitarian groups have warned that the crisis could spread if urgent help is not received. | |
| Aid agencies, including the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the children's fund Unicef, said that 4.9 million people - more than 40% of South Sudan's population - are in urgent need of food. | Aid agencies, including the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the children's fund Unicef, said that 4.9 million people - more than 40% of South Sudan's population - are in urgent need of food. |
| When is a famine declared? | When is a famine declared? |
| Food shortages can lead to large numbers of people lacking nutrition, but only rarely do they amount to famine, according to UN humanitarian criteria. | Food shortages can lead to large numbers of people lacking nutrition, but only rarely do they amount to famine, according to UN humanitarian criteria. |
| Long periods of drought and other problems reducing the supply of food do not necessarily result in a famine. | Long periods of drought and other problems reducing the supply of food do not necessarily result in a famine. |
| A famine is declared only when certain measures of mortality, malnutrition and hunger are met. They are: | A famine is declared only when certain measures of mortality, malnutrition and hunger are met. They are: |
| The declaration of a famine carries no binding obligations on the UN or member states, but serves to focus global attention on the problem. | The declaration of a famine carries no binding obligations on the UN or member states, but serves to focus global attention on the problem. |
| Source: UN | Source: UN |
| The report on Monday said that an increase in humanitarian assistance was needed in order to prevent the famine from spreading to other vulnerable areas. | The report on Monday said that an increase in humanitarian assistance was needed in order to prevent the famine from spreading to other vulnerable areas. |
| "If sustained and adequate assistance is delivered urgently, the hunger situation can be improved in the coming months and further suffering mitigated," the report said. | "If sustained and adequate assistance is delivered urgently, the hunger situation can be improved in the coming months and further suffering mitigated," the report said. |
| Head of the WFP in South Sudan, Joyce Luma, said that the famine was "man-made" after three years of conflict across the country stifled crop production and hit farmers and rural livelihoods. | Head of the WFP in South Sudan, Joyce Luma, said that the famine was "man-made" after three years of conflict across the country stifled crop production and hit farmers and rural livelihoods. |
| The impact of the conflict, combined with high food prices, economic disruption and low agricultural production has resulted in the area becoming "food insecure", the report added. | The impact of the conflict, combined with high food prices, economic disruption and low agricultural production has resulted in the area becoming "food insecure", the report added. |
| It is not the first time South Sudan has experienced such a crisis. During the war for independence from Sudan, the territory suffered from a famine in 1998. | It is not the first time South Sudan has experienced such a crisis. During the war for independence from Sudan, the territory suffered from a famine in 1998. |
| Last week, the WFP warned that more than 20 million people may face starvation in a series of famines over the next six months. | Last week, the WFP warned that more than 20 million people may face starvation in a series of famines over the next six months. |
| The WFP's chief economist, Arif Husain, said a combination of wars and drought meant that for the first time in recent years, aid workers were now talking about four simultaneous famines in separate parts of the world. | The WFP's chief economist, Arif Husain, said a combination of wars and drought meant that for the first time in recent years, aid workers were now talking about four simultaneous famines in separate parts of the world. |
| He added that despite record levels of international humanitarian aid distribution, there was not enough to look after all the people in need. | He added that despite record levels of international humanitarian aid distribution, there was not enough to look after all the people in need. |