More than 70 children under the age of five died of malaria and measles in Boma State between July and September, a government official said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, the state governor David Yau Yau confirmed that 78 children had died of malaria and measles in different part of the state, adding that more than 20 cases were being handled at the health facility.
The top state official pointed out that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating in Jebel Boma, Likuangule and Gumuruk areas.
Governor Yau Yau appealed to the health ministry and aid agencies to urgently provide medicines to save children from diseases.
According to reports, more than seven million South Sudanese – over half the country’s population – are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The conflict in the world’s youngest nation created the largest displacement crisis in Africa with over 4.3 million people forced to flee their homes; 1.8 million people are internally displaced and there are 2.3 million refugees in the region.