Over 6,000 vulnerable mothers and children in the flood-hit area of Bentiu, Unity State, South Sudan, have received vital nutrition support through the efforts of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), made possible by funding from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief).
This initiative underscores a longstanding partnership between WFP and KSrelief, which began in 2018, aimed at improving the health and nutrition of those most in need.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia provided US$400,000 through KSrelief, enabling the procurement and distribution of specialized nutritious foods such as Super Cereal Plus—a fortified blended food—and Plumpy Doz, a lipid-based nutrient supplement. These items are tailored to prevent acute malnutrition in young children (six months and older) and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Bentiu continues to experience dangerously high rates of malnutrition due to ongoing flooding, which has devastated land, displaced entire communities, and increased the spread of waterborne diseases—conditions that heighten the risk of malnutrition, especially among children.
“With hunger and malnutrition surpassing the resources available, support for nutrition initiatives is more crucial than ever,” said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP’s Country Director in South Sudan. “Timely and appropriate nutrition can be life-saving and gives children the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive. Our collaboration with KSrelief is instrumental in achieving this.”
This assistance comes amid a worsening food crisis in South Sudan, where nearly 7.7 million people are facing severe food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or higher), including approximately 2.1 million children at risk of malnutrition in 2025.
KSrelief and WFP have partnered globally since the centre’s founding in Riyadh in 2015. Their ongoing work in South Sudan is a testament to their shared dedication to improving the well-being of vulnerable communities through sustained nutrition support.
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