Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to (a) tackle and (b) prevent famine in South Sudan.

Although famine has not been formally declared in 2018, South Sudan continues to experience record levels of food insecurity as a result of the ongoing conflict. 5.3 million people, nearly half the population, are estimated to be severely food insecure - a 40% increase from the same time last year. 1 million people are on the edge of famine.

To tackle food insecurity and prevent famine, UK Aid is working with partners like the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Humanitarian Air Service to get food and nutrition supplies to key locations across the country – by truck, helicopter or barge. With support from the UK and other international donors, so far this year WFP has reached almost 1.6 million people with a total of 18,000 metric tonnes of food. They are also continuing to preposition stocks at key locations across the country in anticipation of future need.