A senior government official in South Sudan’s Kapoeta State said citizens are facing acute shortages of food in the area, saying hunger has started to force local residents to look for refuge in neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Josphine Nakuru, Minister of Information in Kapoeta, said at least three people died of hunger in late January.

“The whole state is in need of food. Our people across the eight counties are suffering, they are affected and the worst part is Kapoeata East where there is a report that two women and one man died,” said Nakuru.

 She pointed out that nearly 500 civilians are crossing to neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia on a daily basis. Nkuru called on humanitarian organizations operating in the area to intervene quickly and rescue the current situation as soon as possible.