WFP Launches Emergency Campaign for South Sudan via Smartphone App

Published February 28, 2017

ShareTheMeal to help fight famine in South Sudan

Berlin – On February 28, 2017, the World Food Programme will launch an emergency fundraising appeal via the ShareTheMeal smartphone app to raise funds for the humanitarian response in South Sudan. This is the first time the fundraising and advocacy app has been used to support an emergency operation. The aim is to raise one million meals for those facing hunger in South Sudan.

Famine was declared across parts of South Sudan on February 21, 2017. The lives of some 100,000 people are threatened, more than 1 million people are on the brink of famine. Almost three years of brutal civil war have destroyed South Sudan’s economy and caused a massive refugee crisis. The situation is expected to continue deteriorating through the lean season, which begins in July 2017.

Despite a substantial humanitarian response in South Sudan, food insecurity has deteriorated to unprecedented levels in these areas owing to protracted violence, insecurity, displacement and a protection crisis that has prevented adequate humanitarian access and aid delivery.

In total, WFP requires US$205 million to provide food and nutrition assistance in South Sudan until the end of July. For the coming weeks, all donations via the ShareTheMeal app will contribute towards WFP’s operations in South Sudan.

WFP’s award-winning ShareTheMeal app has engaged a new generation of people; more than 770,000 people have downloaded the app and shared over 11.2 million meals with thousands of vulnerable children in Lesotho, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Malawi and Cameroon. Following this emergency campaign, ShareTheMeal will return to fundraising for the school meals program in northern Cameroon.

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For more information, please contact:

Victoria Leonhardt, WFP Berlin, victoria.leonhardt@wfp.org