Hunger threats keep increasing as the dry spell progresses in Eastern Equatoria State due to food shortage.
Eastern Equatoria Agriculture caretaker minister Jerome Gama Surur alerted that the lives of the people in the semi-arid counties of the state are at greater risk of hunger, Radio Emmanuel reported.He said children, women and elderly persons are the most affected as the youth and the able bodied men migrate with animals in search of pastures and water.
Mr Gama added that rain will difficult the transport of food from one place to another.
The caretaker minister said the situation could become worse by June with the number hungry people duplicating from 200,000 to 400,000 in the State.
Mr Gama lamented that many people in Eastern Equatoria currently survives on less than one meal per day.
He added that his ministry wants to restore dignity to the people by assuring them at least a good meal every day.
Mr Gama criticized employees who eat very good meals in town but are unable to provide their families with enough food.
The caretaker minister called on the state residents to increase food production instead of depending on relief aid and food imported from the neighbouring countries, making life very hard to low income earners.