JUBA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) said Friday that it requires 281 million U.S. dollars to provide humanitarian assistance to South Sudanese who are facing a food crisis.

The WFP said in a statement that the funds will be used to provide food and nutrition assistance to 2.3 million people escaping war, climate extremes and an economic disaster, which are plunging them into a severe hunger crisis.

"New funding for the WFP's crisis response activities in South Sudan is needed now to preposition life-saving food ahead of the rainy season," the WFP said.

Despite the generosity of many governments and individual donors, the UN agency revealed that it is experiencing a steep decline in funding across its major donors.

According to the WFP, the severity of these cuts, combined with record levels of people in need, have also led to a record crisis for tens of millions across the globe reliant on food aid.

South Sudan has seen the arrival of more than one million people, fleeing from the war in Sudan and who need assistance. Nearly two-thirds of the people in the African country are acutely food insecure, said the WFP.

In November last year, the WFP called on donors to provide early funding for South Sudan operations so that it can preposition food to prevent spiraling operational costs and hunger through 2025. Enditem

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