ADDIS ABABA: South Sudan faces possible famine if warring forces continue to flout a ceasefire deal, US and EU envoys warned yesterday, after almost three months of raging conflict left thousands dead.
“The parties have failed to respect their commitment to the January 23 cessation of hostilities,” said United States envoy Donald Booth, at a meeting of regional leaders in Ethiopia on the conflict in the world’s youngest country.
South Sudan’s government has been at war with rebel groups since December 15, when a clash between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and those loyal to sacked vice president Riek Machar snowballed into full-scale fighting.
Over 930,000 civilians have fled their homes since fighting began.
“The rains are coming, and if people cannot go and plant there will not be sufficient stocks within months... This should be a matter of the greatest urgency.”
The army yesterday reported clashes in the strategic oil city of Malakal, one of the hardest-fought battlegrounds in the conflict.
AFP
