The already poor food security situation in the country is likely to worsen to critical levels next year, the Food and Agriculture Organization has warned.

It says this is due to renewed violence in some parts of the country, and a worsening economy.

According to a recent report by three UN agencies, including the WFP and the FAO, the country is facing record levels of food insecurity.

On 8 February 2016, they said 2.8 million people, nearly 25 percent of the country’s population, remained in urgent need of food assistance, and at least 40,000 people were on the brink of catastrophe.

In a new situation report, the FAO says the effects of the July violence in Juba continue to be felt across the country.

“The looting of FAO’s central warehouse in Juba resulted in the loss of $3 million in pre-positioned supplies,” partly read the statement.

“Livelihood inputs, in particular, must be urgently replaced if support is to be provided to vulnerable households during the dry season.”

It says growing tensions and violent clashes are restricting humanitarian access and displacing thousands of families from their homes and farms.

The FAO says this has made livelihood support critical for the most vulnerable populations and affecting their coping mechanisms.