NEW YORK (UMNS) -- The food shortage in South Sudan is so severe that more than half of the residents in two counties say they regularly skip meals.
Armed with information from an August survey, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is planning an ambitious food-security project to assist the people there “so they have a broader food basket,” says Thomas Dwyer, who leads UMCOR’s nongovernmental unit.
The launch date of the three-year project is January — the same month when voters decide whether South Sudan should become independent from the current government of Sudan. Political unrest related to the Jan. 9 referendum could cause delays, he acknowledged.