Heads of the United Nations Refugee Agency or UNHCR and World Food Programme or WFP said they were shocked to see South Sudan refugees surviving on grass, wild fruits and leaves in Ethiopia.
In a statement, UNHCR António Guterres and WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin said South Sudanese women and children were exhausted, traumatized and famished.
The officials added that scores of young children were registering an alarmingly high malnutrition rates.
In Gambella region of Ethiopia, Mr Guterres said “the physical and psychological condition of South Sudanese refugees is shocking. This is a tragedy I had hoped I would not see again’.
Ms Cousin said “we must work together and redouble our efforts to ensure that people receive nutritious food, clean water and other basic services on both sides of the border’.