A leading civil society organization has expressed its deep concern about acute shortages of food supply due to security fears in the proposed Yei River State.
The Community Empowerment for Rehabilitation and Development (CEFORD), said many families sleep without eating food due to soaring food prices at the market, while warning against a humanitarian disaster if the situation continues as such without any solution.
Mawa George, CEFORD’s Executive Director, told Radio Tamazuj that children, women and the elderly will die of hunger if nothing is done.“We are already seeing a danger if nothing is done in the months of August and September “said Mawa.
“Our call is that there is need urgently to stabilize the security situation so that this current economic hardship is brought to an end” he added.
Mawa revealed that armed security organs impose restrictions on traders from Morobo, Lasu, Lainya and Tore areas, affecting food supply to vulnerable citizens.
The civil society activist added that local residents are fleeing daily to refugee camps in Uganda due fears of hunger if there is no peace and stability in the area. He called on the government and the opposition faction to allow free movements of civilians and good to production areas.
“The food situation is very dire, there is no food, and people are feeling very insecure in terms of access to food. Food is not allowed to be brought to Yei and at the same time people are not allowed to freely move to their villages to get food for their family “he explained.
Mawa also called on international and indigenous humanitarian organizations to intervene and provide aid assistance to the conflict-affected people in Mugwo, Lasu and Otogo payams.
Separately, the civil society organization welcomed the recent proposal by the IGAD summit to deploy a protection force in order to restore peace and stability in South Sudan.
“ I think with the coming of these regional forces into the country, there will be hope for a stable security, peace and return of the internally displaced persons back to their areas of settlement” he said.