Juba: The World Food Programme (WFP) today called on the parties to the conflict in South Sudan to immediately halt military operations and allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands of civilians in Jonglei State.

According to Qatar News Agency, the WFP warned that the risk of escalating violence in Jonglei could force many of the state's two million residents to flee in search of safety and food. It projected that nearly 60 percent of the population may face critical levels of hunger during the upcoming dry season, when food insecurity typically reaches its peak.

Acting Country Director of the WFP in South Sudan, Adham Affandi said that "the window of opportunity to reach the most vulnerable is rapidly closing," urging all parties to protect civilians and humanitarian workers and to permit the delivery of life-saving assistance.

According to the UN agency, neither the WFP-led Logistics Cluster nor the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service has received authorization from authorities to coordinate road convoys and passenger flights on behalf of the humanitarian community. The programme stressed that these restrictions must be urgently addressed to ensure the effective and timely delivery of aid.

The WFP noted that it aims this year to reach approximately 3.3 million of the most vulnerable people across South Sudan by providing emergency, life-saving food assistance.