Three people have starved to death in Renk, Eastern Nile State, over the last three days, according to an official.

The County Executive Director, Ran Lee Abiel says higher prices of goods are the main reason for the deaths.

For example, a bag of maize flour has gone up from 200 to more than 500 pounds.

Mr Abiel says citizens are still not able to afford basic goods despite the opening of the border with the Sudan to allow free movement of commodities.

He told Eye Radio that authorities in the county are working on a policy to ensure that prices are reduced.

“If these people [traders] don’t want to reduce the prices, then we will choose particular dealers to bring goods without taxes,” said Mr Abiel.

However, the border area reportedly produced enough food last year.

Last month, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission said it had started buying food from Renk to be supplied to the Bahr al-Ghazal region.

The chairman of the commission, Lokulenge Lole, said the government had already paid for 6,000 bags of sorghum to be transported to Wau.