Three South Sudan states face food shortage

July 5, 2009 (JUBA) — Three Southern Sudan states are facing significant food shortage as result of tribal violence and attacks by Ugandan rebels, the semi-autonomous government in Juba said.

A delegation for the federal government led by Haroun Lual, minister of humanitarian affairs, paid a visit to Juba and met on Saturday with the Southern Sudan vice-president Riek Machar to discuss ways to fill the food cap.

Following the meeting, Machar said they agreed together with UN officials to send joint teams to assess the humanitarian needs in the affected areas. He mentioned three states as particularly concerned: Bahar Al-Ghazal, Upper Nile and Eastern Equatoria.

Hassabou Mohamed Abdel-Rahman, commissioner of humanitarian assistance said the meeting discussed the proposed solutions to convoy food to the affected areas and its protection.

The tribal fighting in different parts of southern Sudan and the LRA attacks in eastern Equatoria have negatively affected the agricultural production there.

(ST)