Severe hunger is likely to threaten three States in South Sudan as the rainy season approaches and fighting intensifies between factions of the SPLA.
Authorities in Jonglei, Unity, and Warrap States have officially announced hunger threats due to a shortage of food.
Warrap State Minister of Information Paul Dhel Gum told Radio Tamazuj that a large number of citizens living in different countries are facing hunger.
He attributed the problem to flooding that affected the area besides the poor condition of roads connecting the state to the country’s capital Juba.
The minister added that they do not have a strategic stockpile for food. “Tonj East and Gogrial East are the mostly affected areas by the hunger, so our people are badly suffering there,” he said.
Gum said they don’t have accurate data with regards to those who died of hunger so far.
The state official pointed out local traders sell commodities at high prices due to poor condition of roads.
The state official disclosed that they recently bought food, but it was inadequate.
“We provided food by reducing the cost by 30%. For instance, If the traders sell a sack of sorghum for 150 SSP, we sell it at 110, so that any citizen can buy,” he explained.
The only solution to the current problem is to encourage the traders to provide goods in the market, according to the Gum.
“We also called on any citizen to sell his or her goat or cow so that he or she can buy food before the situation deteriorates” he appealed.
The minister revealed attempts by the state ministry of physical infrastructure to repair the road linking Kuajoc with Gogrial East County.
Meanwhile, Jodi Jonglei, Jonglei State Minster of Information said hundreds of citizens are living in deteriorating humanitarian situation due to lack of food in the state.
He said hundreds of people who fled the ongoing war in Duk and Poktap areas are living without any food assistance.
The state official pointed out that the conflict-affected people were depending on fishing.
Jodi called on humanitarian organizations to intervene by helping the conflict-affected people as soon as possible before their conditions deteriorate further.