It said one person was also gravely injured.

The attack was carried out by armed men in a farming community in Ngauro where 10 oxen were reportedly stolen but later recovered through community efforts.

According to Save the Children, the victims were community members who were engaged in its supported-livelihood activity.

Ngauro is in the remote mountain, outside of Kapoeta in the Eastern Equatoria state.

It is mostly inhabited by the Didinga and the Toposa communities who conduct farming and rare animals in the area.

Rama Hansraj, the Country Director of Save the Children called on the government to provide protection to farmers.

“We express our condolences and grief to the families of the killed and injured people, and their wider communities,” said the country Director of Save the Children.

“This is a terrible tragedy that might have been avoided if security forces had provided the necessary protection for communities to engage in productive work. While the country is grappling with a severe hunger crisis and peace is stabilizing, the Government should focus on improving overall protection and safety for its population.”

“It is disheartening that communities that are already suffering from various hardships continue to be brutally attacked and robbed of the little peace and livelihoods they have.”

She says attacking farmers has not different from attacks on humanitarian workers.

“Attacks on communities are also attacks on humanitarian aid as they create fear and disruptions in the flow of assistance to children and families. Security is paramount in the progress of peace commitments and for communities to reduce the dependence on aid.”

“Long-term durable and sustainable solutions in the form of agricultural activities and communities engaging in work are the only hope for a better future. Such incidents like this seriously erode that hope” said Rama Hansraj.

She says she is concerned that the incident might further exacerbate the crisis due to fear that might hinder the participation of community members in livelihood programs.

The head of humanitarian organization called on the Government to conduct a proper enquiry into the incident, and any similar incidents across the country, and ensure justice be secured for those who lost lives and were injured in the attack.

She added that the Government must also help facilitate dialogue among conflicting communities so as to avoid any revenge attacks.

Save the Children is implementing several programs in the region Eastern Equatoria State] to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation, including crisis levels of hunger.