The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a $5 million donation from China to support its emergency response to the deteriorating food security situation in South Sudan.

The money will be used to assist people in the conflict-affected states - Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei - where people rely heavily on humanitarian assistance.

"China's generosity comes at a crucial time when we must support people who are on the brink of a hunger calamity in remote parts of the conflict-affected states," said Joyce Luma, WFP Country Director in South Sudan. "We are working around the clock with our partners to save lives, and this support helps address a critical need".

WFP will use the funds provided by China to purchase cereals, pulses, oil and salt that will help meet the immediate needs of vulnerable people in the states that have been most ravaged by fighting.

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis estimates that 3.9 million people face acute hunger in South Sudan, including about 30,000 who are facing starvation in parts of Unity State that humanitarian agencies have struggled to reach for months.

WFP and its partners have assisted about 2.6 million people in South Sudan since the start of this year. About 1.3 million of these received life-saving food and nutrition assistance through the agency's emergency operation, mainly in the states of Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity, as well as Protection of Civilians areas. Another 1.3 million were assisted across the country through the WFP's relief and recovery operation which supports people's resilience-building activities and refugees in South Sudan.