Juba (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross has distributed more than 370 tonnes of seed right across South Sudan, with nearly 32,000 South Sudanese families receiving seed in areas most affected by drought or violence.
Each family received 5 kilogrammes of sorghum seed, 5 kilogrammes of maize seed and various types of vegetable seed including pumpkin and okra. Some areas also received 16 kilogrammes of groundnut seed.
Families also received food during the seed distribution operation, so they could spend time planting knowing that they had a ready supply of food.
"Given the dry weather El Nino brought last year, compounded with the consequences of two years of conflict, the most recent harvest was very small. That means there was little food left at the end of the season, sometimes forcing families to eat the seed that they would have planted the next season," explained Christa Utiger, who oversees the ICRC's economic security projects in the country.
"Distributing seed in time for the planting season boosts the chances of a good harvest and we hope that this will enable tens of thousands of families to feed themselves once again," she added.
The ICRC will continue to support people who have suffered two years of conflict, by delivering emergency aid and helping communities become more resilient.
For further information, please contact:
Layal Horanieh, ICRC Juba, tel: +211 912 360 038 / +211 912 360 023
Jason Straziuso, ICRC Nairobi, tel: +254 733 622 02
