UN says 1.25 million S. Sudanese are one step from famine

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Fri, 08 Dec 2017 - 04:56 GMT

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Fri, 08 Dec 2017 - 04:56 GMT

A United Nations flag flies outside the the European headquarters of the United Nations ahead of new round of meetings for the Syria talks in Geneva, Switzerland, March 16, 2016. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

A United Nations flag flies outside the the European headquarters of the United Nations ahead of new round of meetings for the Syria talks in Geneva, Switzerland, March 16, 2016. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

NEW YORK - 8 December 2017: Over 1.25 million people in war-torn South Sudan are one step away from famine, twice as many as at the same time last year. In early 2018 half the country's population will be reliant on emergency food aid, the UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said.

Lowcock told the UN Security Council (UNSC) that seven million people inside the country; almost two-thirds of the remaining population, still need humanitarian aid, Fox News reported on Friday.

"The next lean season beginning in March is likely to see famine conditions in several locations across the country," Lowcock said. "We were able to reverse famine conditions this year, with significant resources and risks, and we must avoid a repeat of this", he added.

UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix called the security situation in South Sudan "precarious" and warned of escalating military conflict and inter-communal fighting as the dry season sets in.

Lacroix urged the Security Council "to remain vigilant and exert more effort to condemn and stop the violence, protect civilians and urgently facilitate a political settlement of the conflict."

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