The United Nations has warned that the South Sudan is on the blink of famine.
Three U.N. agencies - UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) - said Thursday that around 3.9 million people across the sub Saharan African nation are facing severe food insecurity, according to a joint statement.
The agencies called on the parties in the conflict to grant urgent and unrestricted access to the worst affected Unity State, DW reported. A newly released Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis shows that at least 30,000 people are living in extreme conditions in the Unity State and are facing starvation and death.
"This is the start of the harvest and we should be seeing a significant improvement in the food security situation across the country, but unfortunately this is not the case in places like southern Unity State, where people are on the edge of a catastrophe that can be prevented," said WFP Country Director Joyce Luma, according to a press release.
"Since fighting broke out nearly two years ago, children have been plagued by conflict, disease, fear and hunger. Their families have been extraordinary in trying to sustain them, but have now exhausted all coping mechanisms," said Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF representative in South Sudan.
"Agencies can support, but only if we have unrestricted access. If we do not, many children may die," said Veitch.
South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, has been embroiled in ethnic fighting since it's partisan from Sudan. Salva Kiir became the country's first president when it gained independence in 2011, BBC News reported.
