66% of South Sudanese are living in poverty due to difficulties to secure their livelihoods, according to the World Bank.
This is a sharp rise from the estimates of the South Sudan Bureau of Statistics, which says more than 51% are living below the poverty line.
In an article on the current economic situation, the institution says South Sudan has experienced very difficult times dealing with several crises between 2015 and 2016.
The article is titled, ‘Giving Voice to the Poor: Adding Human Touch to Poverty Data in South Sudan.”
The author, Hannah Arendt says the shaky peace agreement gave way to a renewed military conflict in July, while the international oil prices dropped at the same time.
He says this deprived South Sudan of its main source of foreign exchange.
The World Bank says it documented a severe financial and economic crisis, leading to rapid increase in prices.
It says it is carrying out a High Frequency Survey to monitor progress and to come up with effective policy recommendations.
The survey would involve collecting video testimonies from people living in extreme poverty within the country.
Such testimonies would prove to be an effective tool to focus its analyses while voicing the concerns of the poorest.
The institution says data collected in the process will also be used by governments to improve their policies.