The United Nations’ Children Agency, UNICEF, says it urgently needs 25 million US dollars to continue with nutrition programs in South Sudan.

It says the current crisis has reduced household food stocks, leading to malnutrition.

The UN says the number of people facing severe food insecurity has almost doubled since the beginning of this year.

“Despite all the progress made in the last year with our partners to treat more children than ever before for malnutrition, the lives of vulnerable women and children – who have exhausted all coping mechanisms available to them – are on the line,” said UNICEF’s Representative in South Sudan, Jonathan Veitch.

UNICEF and partners have so far treated almost 50,000 children for severe dire malnutrition this year.