Children roast pesticide treated sorghum as source of food at Naipuru camp for internal displaced persons in Jebel Boma County. (John Tanza/VOA)

The Commissioner of Pochalla County on Monday warned of possible hunger in the area after two months without rain, raising fears of drought.

Commissioner Owiti Olung said since April, there has not been any drop of rain in the area, leaving local farmers unable to plant food crops.

Olung called on the national government, United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations to recuse the civil population.

“The situation now is bad, there’s hunger, everything people have cultivated are already consumed and the communities are looking up to WFP for supplies,” he said to Eye Radio from Pochalla County in Pibor Administrative Area.

In another twist, the official said WFP has declared inability to supply food in the area over acute funding shortage caused by the war in Ukraine.

“WFP is not supporting Pochalla because of the fighting in Russia and Ukraine, where it has cut the food supplies to Pochalla. So, Pochalla is out from the support of WFP and there is nothing for the people at the moment.”

The World Food Program is yet to comment on the situation in Pochalla.

Two thirds of South Sudan population, about 7.8 million people, may face severe food shortages between April and July 2023 lean season due to floods, drought and conflict, according to United Nations agencies.