Government and United Nations’ agencies have declared famine in Upper Nile region’s Unity State.
UN agencies, Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, Children Fund, UNICEF and World Food Programme, WFP confirm 100 thousand people are facing starvation in the area, Radio Bakhita reports.
The cause of famine in the region is attributed to ‘war and collapsing economy’.
A formal famine declaration means that people have already started dying of hunger.
FAO Deputy Representative, Pierre Vauthier says UN agencies will try to help the population to cultivate during the rainy season.
The UN agencies appeal for access to deliver humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Chol Aruai, the Chairperson of the National Bureau of Statistics warns that if war continues without humanitarian access, 5.5 million South Sudanese will suffer severe starvation in July this year.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification update indicates more than 40 percent of South Sudanese population are in need of food assistance.
Earlier on, UN agencies warned of looming famine in South Sudan, but the government had been rebuking the reports.