People displaced by hunger in Lafon County. (Social Media).

A legislator representing Lafon County in Eastern Equatoria State parliament has raised alarm over a worsening hunger in the drought-hit area.

Honorable Visor Likali said flooding and two consecutive dry spells have resulted in poor harvest and caused a dire food insecurity situation.

Other factors contributing to the situation are reported to be animals destroying crop farms and poor road networks cutting off commercial supplies.

According to Likali, many families in Lafon are now migrating to neighboring areas in search of better living conditions.

“The situation of food security is very alarming; you remember last year there was too much flooding in the area and that flooding has resulted in a poor harvest,” he said speaking to Eye Radio following the parliamentary recess on Friday.

“The community did not get a good harvest due to flooding. S there was already a hope that this second season may turn around and give a good harvest to the community.”

“Very, very unfortunate, the dry spelled really dried the crops, most of the crops were wagered away and totally making people very, very much vulnerable.”

Likali said the situation is very serious as many people are starving while others are surviving on wild fruits.

“People were disturbed by the flooding, poor harvest, again the sunshine. So, this is very serious and very alarming and as we talk now, communities are relying on wild fruits and some seeds that are eatable, that is a very serious situation.”

“Some decide to migrate to the neighboring counties like Magwi, others go to Lobone, and others proceed to camps.”

The legislator is calling on the government and partners to urgently distribute food and non-food items to the affected population.

He also urges the supply of essential drugs and nutritional supplements to health facilities including the provision of integrated nutritional and emergency health response.