(L) Mutinta Chimuka, WFP South Sudan Country Director, (M) Oyama Hiromuto the Chargé d’Affaires of Japan Embassy in South Sudan, and (R) , William Chan Achuil the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management after signing ceremony of 2.2 million $ donation to WFP in Juba, 26^th/08/2026. Photo Credit: Emmanuel Kayanga

By: Emmanuel Kayanga | Juba | August 26^th, 2026.

The Government of Japan has donated 2.2 million US Dollars to the World Food Programme to support its malnutrition response in South Sudan, as 7.8 million people are currently facing acute food insecurity according to WFP. The contribution of 350 million Japanese Yen (2.2 million $) was signed on Tuesday, 26 August 2026, during a ceremony held in Juba.

Speaking during signing ceremony, Oyama Hiromuto the Chargé d’Affaires of Japan Embassy in South Sudan said the agreement comes at a critical moment where over half the population in the country is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with approximately 2.2 million children suffering from acute malnutrition. He said conflict, flooding and rising food prices continue to deepen the crisis, warning that without urgent support, more than 222,000 children and pregnant and breastfeeding women could lose access to nutrition assistance from October.

“Severe funding shortages are threatening the continuity of essential nutrition services. Those vulnerable children and mothers are in dire need for timely intervention to save them from severe malnutrition and loss of life,” said Hiromuto.

Hiromuto is further urging the Transitional Government and all parties to pursue political dialogue and ensure safe humanitarian access, saying attacks on UN peacekeepers can never be accepted.

“International assistance cannot substitute for strong national commitment. Food and nutrition security must be a national priority, properly resourced and sustained and this requires not only resources, but also peace and safe humanitarian access,” added Hiromuto.

On her part, WFP South Sudan Country Director, Mutinta Chimuka, described Japan’s support as “a lifeline of hope.” She said it will allow WFP to provide critical nutrition assistance and that the ability to serve communities depends on strong partnerships with the government and global actors.

“Japan’s support will allow us to provide critical nutrition assistance to more than 38,000 women and children in some of the hardest-hit communities in the country,” said Chimuka.

Meanwhile, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, William Chan Achuil emphasized that the contribution comes at a time when many South Sudanese are facing hunger and displacement, and appealed to other donors to join efforts to prevent vulnerable people from being left without food assistance.

“This contribution is more than financial assistance. It is a strong expression of the friendship and solidarity between the people of Japan and the people of South Sudan. We are concerned that WFP recently informed the Government that, from 1 October 2026 there may be no food and funding available for IDPs, returnees, refugees and vulnerable host communities unless additional resources are urgently mobilized,” said Achuil.

The 2.2 million US Dollars donation will enable WFP to provide life-saving nutrition assistance to almost 40,000 women and children in the most critically vulnerable areas, including Jonglei, Upper Nile, Unity, Warrap and parts of Greater Bahr el Ghazal.