Several schools in Eastern Equatoria state had to close down and many more are expected to follow suit over food shortage that is affecting feeding programmes.
Radio Emmanuel reported that pupils abandoned Loolim, Kalacha and Kaldo primary and other hunger stricken schools in the rural areas of Narus County of Eastern Equatoria state.Director General of Education in Eastern Equatoria state ministry of Education, Science and Technology, James Amoko Ameck, said many schools remained closed since January due to lack of food.
He explained that Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was supplying food to primary schools in Ikotos, Narus, Budi, Kapoeta East, Magwi and Torit Counties under the school feeding programme before its stores dried up, at the end of last year.
Mr. Amoko explained that CRS has run out of food to supply the affected schools.
Mr. Amoko said the food crisis affecting CRS beneficiary schools started last year and the World Food Programme (WFP) took over after a meeting with the heads of both agencies but the continuity of the project has failed this year.
The Director General appealed to aid agencies that have food stocks to bail out his ministry as the government has no resources to implement school feeding programme.
Mr. Amoko called on the WFP to bridge the gap left by CRS.
Efforts by Radio Emmanuel to reach CRS and WFP officials for comments over the matter proved fruitless as their contact numbers could not be availed.