U.N. warns of looming food crisis in South Sudan starting next year

The UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has warned that South Sudan will begin next year with the worst food security situation in the country’s history.

The joint report by the UN and South Sudan says 5.1 million South Sudanese people, more than half of the country’s population, will be food insecure by the beginning of 2018.

FAO says it has supported 4.2 million South Sudanese people with farming tools, seeds and fishing nets this year but it is still urging donors for funds to help end the food shortage.

The ongoing violence in the young African nation did not allow farmers to cultivate although it is harvest season in the country leading to most of the food commodities in the markets to be imported from neighboring countries.

Inflation is also high in South Sudan and many locals are unable to afford food.

CGTN’s Patrick Oyet reports from Juba.