Hon. Okach Mangisto Agueri, the Commissioner of Lafon County in Eastern Equatoria state - Credit: Lou Nelson/Eye Radio - January 23, 2023

The Commissioner of Lafon County in Eastern Equatoria State says the local population is severely hit by hunger and people are starving due to crop failure in 2022.

Magisto Ukach said the county usually experiences hunger during the lean season between June and July annually.

But Ukach said this season’s hunger started right from November 2022 when multiple factors including pests and flooding led to poor harvest.

The official told Eye Radio about half of the population in the north and northwestern Payams is hit by hunger – resulting in mass exodus to Juba.

“Every year, when we reach the months of June and July, we experience hunger but for Lafon,” said Magisto. “This year is quite unique and very strange because the hunger started early last year around November.”

“Many families did not even harvest anything almost every household in north and northwest of Lafon are suffering,” he said.  “Almost every family is suffering from kind of hunger.”

“The number generally in terms of percentage in comparison to the total population in the county the number is 40% suffering from hunger.”

Commissioner Ukach appeals to humanitarian organizations to intervene with relief assistance.