Three people have died of hunger in Pochalla County, according to Jonglei state officials.

Last week, the Pochalla County Commissioner said that severe food shortages had forced more than five thousand people to cross the border into Ethiopia in search of food and medication.

Speaking to Eye Radio, Jonglei state Minister for Rural Development, Gato Cham said hundreds of women and children are on the brink of death due to the continued food shortages and the lack of medical assistance.

“The situation is really very bad. If you come to Pachalla now the population has completely gone to Ethiopia,” Mr. Cham told Eye Radio. “I found most of the houses are empty, people have evacuated the town and also in the villages everyday they are going and there is no way out the government can stop them, because there is nothing to be given to them. There is nothing in Pochalla; there is no even a single bag in the store of World Food Program.”

Mr. Gato warned that the death toll may increase in the coming weeks if nothing is done by the national government or NGOs.