The county government in Budi in Eastern Equatoria claims that more than six people have died in their villages recently due to hunger, noting that there has been poor rainfall in the area.
Inadequate rainfall was reported in Eastern Equatoria since the beginning of the year which resulted in a poor harvest in the first season.
Sam Felix Makuja, Budi Commissioner told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that over six people were reported to have died because of no harvest this season. He said the lack of rainfall resulted in shortages of food.
Felix said the six reported deaths were from payams close to the county headquarters while the total number of dead in the whole county was hard to know because some people may have died of hunger in more mountainous and inaccessible areas.
The commissioner said they had received no assitance from either the government or UN agencies.
He stressed that the sitation in the county is very dry and even a fire risk.
Mark Akio, Eastern Equatoria Minister of Information told Radio Tamazuj that they have not received any information about people who died in Budi County, however, he admitted that there was hunger in all of the counties except Magwi.
He said the state government had sent out inspectors to find out conditions in the villages due to the dry spell.