Famine declared in South Sudan with about 4.9 million people in urgent need of food - UN

The United Nations Aid Agencies on Tuesday formally declared famine in parts of South Sudan, warning that war and a collapsing economy have left some 100,000 people facing starvation with almost 5 million people, more than 40% of the country's population, in need of urgent help. 

According to the agencies, people are already dying of hunger, and another 1 million people are on the brink of famine.

In a news released issued jointly with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative in South Sudan, Serge Tissot said;

“Famine has become a tragic reality in parts of South Sudan and our worst fears have been realised.” "Many families have exhausted every means they have to survive," he stated.

Years of civil war, refugee crisis and a collapsing economy have taken their toll on the country since it gained independence in 2011. 

The people who are predominantly farmers, have lost their livestock, even their farming tools due to the war and left people with little choice but to scavenge for food to survive. 

Food production in the country was badly affected by an upsurge in violence in 2016 with soaring inflation (800 per cent year-on-year) making it difficult for people to procure even basic food items.

The total number of food insecure people is expected to rise to 5.5 million at the height of the lean season in July if nothing is done to curb the severity and spread of the crisis.