The threat of famine looms over Northern Bahr el Ghazal due to a sharp increase of IDPs arrivals and traders’ cuts in supplies from the North.
The alert came from the state minister for Agriculture. Ayii Bol told IRIN News that the coming months would be terrible.The arrival of large numbers of people raised fears of possible food shortages, because northern traders who supply Northern Bahr el-Ghazal have been staying away, fearing possible referendum-related violence.
Omwenga Kinanga, project manager for Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team, a local NGO that operates in Awei, said traders did not bring much cargo these days.
Mubarak Idris, who used to bring a lorry load of food every month, said he cannot bring anything now if he is not sure first.
South Sudan officials estimate that 80,000 households averaging five to six people will return before the January referendum.
Almost 500 thousand people are expected in the region before the end of voter registration that kicks off on Monday.