Over 320,000 face food insecurity in Greater Pibor

More than 320,000 people in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area are facing food insecurity following a prolonged dry spell that has affected agricultural production this year, according to local authorities.

Poor rainfall has damaged farms in several parts of the area, worsening food shortages amid changing weather patterns linked to El Niño and climate change.

Speaking to Eye Radio on Tuesday, the Caretaker Minister of Information and Communication for Greater Pibor, Jacob Werchum Juok, said women, children and elderly people account for about 60 percent of those affected.

“Local assessment indicated that 320,000 individuals are severely affected by the prolonged dry spell and are now facing food insecurity. About 60 percent of the affected population are estimated to be women, children and elderly people,” he told Eye Radio.

Werchum appealed to the national government, humanitarian agencies, development partners and international donors to provide urgent assistance.

“We appeal to the national government, humanitarian agencies, development partners and international donors to intervene immediately in the escalating humanitarian crisis unfolding across Greater Pibor Administrative Area,” he said.

“We call for immediate emergency humanitarian assistance, including food relief, emergency borehole rehabilitation and drilling in the most affected areas. We also call for urgent assessments and interventions to rescue the most affected families and improve food availability across all the seven counties of Greater Pibor,” he added.

He also called for nutrition support for children and pregnant women, rehabilitation and drilling of boreholes, and essential healthcare services.

The minister urged humanitarian partners to conduct urgent assessments and provide assistance to vulnerable communities across the seven counties of the administrative area.