The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has warned of alarming levels of starvation, acute malnutrition, and devastating food insecurity in South Sudan.
The UN agency says so far, 2.8 million people are severely food insecure, with areas affected by the conflict accounting for the worst affected.
The FAO Technical Officer on Food Security Analysis, James Bwirani, says the hunger situation has been caused by the rapidly increasing prices of food in the markets, and the exhausted food supplies in those areas.
He says the communities in the affected areas cannot afford to buy food in the market due to the economic situation.
Mr. Bwirani told Eye Radio that the situation is likely to worsen due to a probable prolonged lean season in the near future; in which farmers and their families are forced to turn to food aid to survive.
“I must hasten to also say that we are seeing bad security situation in the Greater Bahr Al Ghazal, especially in Northern Bahr al Ghazal, Warrap and Western Bahr Al Ghazal,” he said.
“This is also spreading to the other areas where we are seeing conflict flaring up most recently, especially in Western Equatoria, and of course, in Eastern Equatoria recently.”
Mr Bwirani says the organization has prioritized the Greater Upper Nile with emergency response, where livelihood kits will be provided, distribution of seeds, and vaccination of animals.
Recently, there have also been reports of deaths from starvation in Eastern Equatoria state.
Mr Bwirani says the organization is also planning separated response approach in other affected areas like the Eastern and Western Equatoria regions.