The number of civilians who died of hunger in Mboro area of Besselia County in South Sudan’s Wau State has risen from 18 to 27, according to a local official.

Besselia County Commissioner Francis Ibrahim told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating for thousands of civilians in Mboro. He said 9 more people died of hunger last week.

Ibrahim noted that a humanitarian survey was conducted in the area at the beginning of August but no aid has come to the area.

He called on humanitarian aid agencies, the church and the national government to hastily respond to the situation to avoid further loss of civilian lives.

Conflict in the world’s youngest nation since December 2013 has uprooted families and led to hunger and immense suffering.