More than 76 percent of disease-related deaths in South Sudan since the beginning of the year are of malaria, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

It says more than 928,000 cases of malaria, including almost 2,000 deaths were recorded since January.

OCHA says malaria has returned as a main cause of illness in the country with the arrival of the rainy season.

The most-affected counties to date are Aweil North, Gogrial West, Juba, Maban, Torit, and Wau.

“Health organizations are scaling up their malaria prevention and response, with the distribution of mosquito nets, and replenishment of antimalarial drugs in health facilities ongoing,” it said in its latest humanitarian bulletin.

However, OCHA notes that closure of some health facilities due to the conflict has severely impacted the availability of healthcare and supply chain issues in the delivery of malaria drugs.

The other major cause of deaths is cholera.