More than 50 families from Kiala in South Sudan's Eastern Equatoria State have gone to Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp and Torit town due to lack of food in the area, Chief David Valentino said.

“There are many people who are going to Kakuma refugee camp, they sell out their cattle and go there to look for assistance. Those who can afford to go to Torit town. They go there but those who cannot they go to Kakuma,” Valentino said.

He said there is shortage of grains in the area. “More than 50 families have left the area this month to search for food,” he stressed.

Valentino pointed out that many citizens are also depending on leaves of trees as their food. He said the shortage of staple grains forced many people to exchange their cattle for it, adding that five sacks of corn are exchanged for one cow.

He said the local administration has discussed the issues facing the citizens with the newly appointed governor of Imatong State, one of three successor states of Eastern Equatoria. The chief called on the authorities to intervene to help the people and provide them with food.