Eastern Equatoria Minister of Agriculture Clement Laku says more than one million people in his state are facing hunger and need emergency food assistance.
Laku told Radio Tamazuj that many families within Eastern Equatoria are seeking refuge in neighbouring countries to escape what he termed a “humanitarian disaster.” He said many people died of hunger in Ikotos and Budi counties and other areas.
The minister called upon aid groups and the national government to provide assistance in the state as soon as possible because the state government does not have enough resources to cope with the situation.
Laku said said his government had allocated 400,000 South Sudanese pounds to purchase food to the population, but it has not yet been approved by the state assembly.
The United Nations has reported that 4.6 million people in South Sudan are expected to be severely food insecure this year.