By Kidega Livingstone
The government has contested claims of hunger-related deaths in the Pibor Administrative Area, saying the fatalities were due to diseases and flooding.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Albino Akol Atak, acknowledged the difficulties in the country but denied that hunger was the primary cause of the deaths.
“Last week I was there in the Pibor area preparing for response, but what I found is that there is death because of disease and flooding. The report on hunger-related deaths is not clear to me, but there are difficulties in the area,” Minister Akol said during the signing of $3.19 million donation to the World Food Program by the government of Japan.
However, the minister did confirm that the area is facing significant challenges, including severe flooding that is expected to affect six states in the country.
He stated that the government has been mapping the affected areas to coordinate a swift response, including advising residents to move to higher ground to facilitate the delivery of food assistance.
This contradicts reports from local authorities, who have confirmed that at least 43 people have died due to hunger-related causes since June in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
Last week, Oleyo Akuer, the information minister in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, provided grim details about the crisis, stating that the hardest-hit areas include Pochalla, Likwangole, Jebal Buma, Marwo, and Loprap.
The hunger crisis has been exacerbated by restricted supply routes, with the main avenues for food aid and relief supplies from Juba, Eastern Equatoria, and neighbouring Ethiopia severely impacted.
In response to the situation, a national government delegation, accompanied by representatives from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), conducted a one-day flood assessment in the area.
This visit underscores the urgency of the crisis and the need for immediate intervention to save lives and address the underlying issues contributing to food insecurity.