Responding to United Nations or UN agencies’ warning that 3.9 million South Sudanese are heading to famine catastrophe, Oxfam South Sudan Director says the alarm is a clear testament to the devastation caused by 22 months of war and that action is needed now to save lives.
In a statement, Zlatko Gegic says Oxfam is working with communities in Southern Unity State where they have seen appalling conditions as first hand witnesses.
The director testifies about hearing heartbreaking stories of civilians being caught up in a vicious cycle of fleeing homes and making treacherous journeys to safer locations only to be faced with starvation and death as aid organizations are blocked from delivering assistance.
Director Gegic says many children have lost their mothers in the fighting or during fleeing journeys where they survive on plant roots and whatever else they can feed on.
The Oxfam Director laments that humanitarians do not have enough funding to respond to the crisis as UN appeal for 2015 only met 55 percent funding.
Gegic alarms that donors must urgently release funding for emergency food aid to save lives and help avert a devastating crisis.
The Oxfam Director appeals to the government and SPLM/A-In-Opposition to respect the ceasefire they signed to enable people access humanitarian aid they desperately need and that the international community must continue to apply all diplomatic measures to support delivery of real lasting peace.