South Sudan, the youngest country in the world, is in need of $426 million to avoid famine.

The UN’s World Food Programme (UNDP) launched the appeal on Tuesday.

Armed conflicts and floods have placed millions at risk.

According to Reuters, last year a million people were displaced.

“We are already in a crisis, but we need to restore food assistance… to prevent people from falling into starvation and famine. To do so, we urgently require $426 million for the next six months,” WFP’s programme officer for South Sudan, Adeyinka Badejo, told reporters.

“South Sudan is facing its hungriest year since independence,” Badejo warned from the capital Juba.

The WFP is planning to provide food assistance to 6.2 million people.

Reuters.