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Likely impact of COVID-19 pandemic on markets and food security in South Sudan

Pays
Soudan du Sud
+ 2
Sources
WFP
Date de publication

Background

More than half of South Sudan’s population – 6.5 million people out of 12 million – were expected to face severe food insecurity at the height of the annual hunger season – even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Years of conflict, climatic shocks, pests, diseases, prolonged depletion of household assets and chronic economic hardships have all contributed to high food insecurity levels in the country.

The country relies heavily on revenue from oil exports. Whilst the re-opening of some damaged oil wells following the revitalized peace agreement in 2018 pushed up daily oil production by about 20 percent in February 2019, the increase has not yet translated to meaningful gains. Hard currency is still restricted, and traders depend on the informal market. The oil revenue will be impacted by the collapse of the world oil prices amidst the spread of COVID-19. The plummeting international oil price translates to heavy losses in export earnings, this means the trade deficit of over 2 billion SSP will only widen.