The SPLA-IO faction allied to former first vice president Riek Machar said government forces attacked Loth area in the southeast of Leer town in Southern Liech State, where aid workers were registering civilians affected by famine.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, James Yoach, Military Spokesman of the SPLA-IO forces in Unity State, said their forces clashed with the government forces after the attack on the area on Saturday.

He further said the attack took place after humanitarian organizations started registering families affected by famine in the area, adding that the attack disrupted the registration process temporarily.

Yoach admitted that one soldier was killed and eight others wounded from their side during the clashes. He claimed that they killed eight government soldiers including a brigadier general and wounded 13 others.

The rebel official pointed out that the recent clashes forced villagers to flee.

Yoach urged the government to allow food aid to reach the conflict-affected people, saying allowing humanitarian access across the country is a shared responsibility between the government and the armed opposition group.

He called on the international community to intervene and stop the ongoing war so the humanitarian organizations could deliver aid assistance to the needy people as soon as possible.

Radio Tamazuj could not reach government officials to comment on the matter.

For its part, the World Food Programme (WFP) said it has sent rapid response missions to register citizens affected by famine in Unity State.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, George Fominyen, the Communications Officer of the WFP, said their teams have already arrived Leer, Koch and Mayendit areas.

Photo: People in conflict-affected areas of South Sudan collect food from WFP. (WFP/Peter Testuzza)