(29th April, 2013) - Twenty people are believed to have starved to death in Panyijar County, Commissioner Simon Chol Biel said.
Mr Chol said the hunger was brought on by floods that destroyed crops and cattle raids that left communities without a source of livelihood.
"The deaths were reported in April alone", he said.
“I was told sixteen people died in Nyal but when I went to Ganyliel to return the cattle back to Nyang county, four people died of hunger in my presence,” Chol told Radio Miraya.
The commissioner appealed to the World Food Program to replace the ‘food for work’ program with ‘free food.’
“They are really vulnerable. Some of them may not be able to work,” Chol said, explaining the humanitarian agencies need to intervene.
Many parts of South Sudan have reported threats of hunger.