While humanitarian support has saved “countless” lives, ongoing fighting in South Sudan continues to make difficult the rollout of aid programmes, according to the Regional Director for Eastern and Central Africa at the World Food Programme (WFP).

Valerie Guarnieri made the remarks on Tuesday during a joint press briefing with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on the escalating hunger crisis in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan.

Since 2013, Africa’s youngest nation has suffered continuous conflict between rival factions, leaving millions displaced and hundreds of thousands dead.

Lucy Dean began by asking Ms Guarnieri how the abduction of eight WFP aid workers in South Sudan in March, and similar incidents across the region, impact the efficacy of aid programmes and the morale of staff.

Duration: 4’57’’