United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs or UNOCHA says prices of essential food items rose rapidly in the first quarter of 2015 in most markets in South Sudan, impacting severely on the cost of living for the urban poor.
In a statement, UNOCHA explains that prices’ rise is due to short supply and high cost of importation following significant weakening of the South Sudanese Pounds against the US Dollar in the black market.
It warns that the current situation could quickly lead to severe macro-economic instability.
The statement adds that a working paper released by food partners on May 25 highlights spiraling prices forecast climax in July.
The Office says commodity prices are currently about 90 to100 percent above the normal seasonal and long-term mean levels in Juba.
UNOCHA laments that prices of staple food, vegetable oil and sugar increased significantly between 24 and 69 percent in the first four months of 2015 in Juba and in most other main towns of the country.