[Photo WFP] The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of USD 6.5 million from the Government of Japan to mitigate food security in South Sudan. This contribution is timely at the start of the lean season when more than 7.2 million people in South Sudan are expected to face acute food shortages, WFP said in a press release. This latest contribution consists of USD 4.5 million for life-saving food assistance to people who are severely food insecure and USD 2 million to restore livelihoods and enhance resilience. “WFP will use this contribution to support 115,000 people in Jonglei, Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Lakes States, where food insecurity has reached catastrophic levels due to continuing violence, two years of excessive flooding, displacement and the loss of livelihoods, livestock, infrastructure and homes that have left millions of people highly vulnerable and unable to provide for themselves,” the statement said.