South Sudan’s First Vice President, Riek Machar and the United States ambassador to South Sudan, Michael Adler, on Monday discussed subnational violence raging on across the country as well as ways to address these conflicts to restore peace in affected areas.

The meeting was held at the First Vice President’s office in the capital, Juba.

“We had a good discussion and we talked about a continued concern about subnational violence and security situation in Upper Nile,” said Adler.

He reaffirmed United States’ unwavering support to the people of South Sudan in their efforts to find a lasting peace and in developing the country.

The meeting came barely a week after the U.S provided $288.5 million to support over two million of the most food-insecure people in South Sudan with life-saving food and nutrition assistance through the 2023 lean season.

South Sudan, aid agencies say, is facing one of its hungriest years since independence with 7.76 million people expected to be in crisis or worse levels of hunger. The lean season, the period between household food stocks running out and the next harvest, falls between April and August.

The contribution from the U.S is expected to support the delivery of food to more than 2.2 million severely food-insecure women, children, and men across South Sudan through 2023. However, as the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance grows, sustainable funding from donors is more critical than ever to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.