Lakes State seeks pasture in Equatoria as drought forces livestock to move

The government of Lakes State says it is working with authorities in Central and Western Equatoria to allow pastoralists to temporarily move their livestock to the two states in search of water and grazing land amid worsening dry conditions.

The move comes as Lakes State declares a state of disaster following prolonged dry spells that have affected crop production and raised concerns over food security and livelihoods.

According to a post on the Lakes State Governor’s Press Unit Facebook page on Tuesday, caretaker Governor Rin Tueny Mabor held a high-level briefing with humanitarian partners to discuss the worsening situation, including challenges facing the health sector, food security and livelihoods.

Following the meeting, State Minister of Information William Koji announced the disaster declaration on behalf of the caretaker government, appealing to the international community for urgent life-saving assistance to prevent a potential famine across the state’s counties.

The state government attributed the prolonged dry conditions to El Niño weather patterns, which it said had negatively affected agricultural production.

Authorities are calling for immediate humanitarian support to help vulnerable communities cope with the drought and protect livestock and livelihoods across Lakes State.