The World Food Program has warned that more fighting in South Sudan could leave millions of people in severe hunger situation next year.

The Deputy Country Director of WFP, Eddie Rowe, says recent harvests in the three conflict-affected states have been limited, meaning that homegrown food could soon start running low.

Some small harvests have helped stave off a feared famine in South Sudan, but any more fighting could still leave millions of people facing severe hunger next year.

Development agencies have launched a huge appeal and the response, together with rainfall, meant that what was speculated about famine has been temporarily averted, Mr Eddie Rowe told Reuters news agency.

The United Nations had warned in May that up to 4 million people in South Sudan would be on the brink of starvation by the end of  this year, after months of clashes threatened harvests and shut down aid programs.

The UN estimates that about 10,000 people have died and more than one million others have been displaced since fighting broke out between the government and the SPLA-SPLM-In Opposition in December last year.

Earlier this week, fighting in Unity State capital Bentiu, shattering months of relative calm in the country.

Diplomats say the arrival of the dry season next month could trigger more fighting despite both sides committing themselves to a ceasefire agreement they signed in May.

A previous ceasefire agreement has been repeatedly violated by both parties.