More than 60,000 citizens in Pibor County in South Sudan’s Boma State are facing shortages of food as a result of a failed agriculture season and poor harvest last year, a local official said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, Simon Gain, Pibor County Commissioner, said many people are now returning to Pibor area from the capital Juba owing to deteriorating living conditions there, but Pibor area is also witnessing acute shortages of food.

“Generally in South Sudan, people are hungry, people could not cultivate because of the fighting, and it is the same situation here in Pibor, the rain was not enough, so people are suffering because there is no food,” said Gain.

The local official pointed out that number of the people who are facing shortages of food could be more than 60,000. “The area is experiencing some peace that’s why those who fled to Juba and other areas are now coming back, there are more than 60,000 people who are living here,” he added.