The head of the government in Renk County of Upper Nile State says that security in his area is stable but there is hunger in the county owing to the bad economy.

“The security inside Renk is fine, there is nothing, there is no problem,” said Renk County Commissioner Chan Aluong. “The challenge here is hunger.”

Speaking on Radio Tamazuj's regular program With the Commissioner, Chan explained that authorities found out that three elderly people had died of hunger last week.

He reported that prices of a sack of sorghum rose from 550 SSP to 700 SSP. “The people don't have any money in their hands,” he said.

Also he pointed out that the border with Sudan still has not opened in spite of announcements by President Omar al Bashir that the border should be opened, though traders are still bringing goods by unofficial routes.

Chan said he had good relations with local authorities in neighboring states of Sudan, Blue Nile and Sennar: “Regarding the security, there is nothing bad at all, except the road has still not opened.”