Vice President James Wani Igga says the government has no money to feed the hungry people in the country.

Nearly 4.6 million, or 40 percent of the population, face hunger, according to the UN World Food Program.

He attributed the declining economy to the shutdown of oil production in Unity State and the fall in oil prices in the international market.

Mr. Wani was addressing a gathering at a dinner organized by the government for South Sudanese Muslims in Juba last evening.

“Stop laziness and work harder to produce your own food,” Mr Wani said.

Mr. Wani said that South Sudanese should be ashamed of being fed by foreigners. He said the country is a recipient of imported food, from meat to fruits that can be produced locally.

He said there are more than 30 million livestock that are not being used to benefit the country economically.