Aweil state on the ‘verge’ of famine

Episode 962,   Jul 19, 2019, 09:02 AM

Aweil state is on the verge of declaring a famine after floods caused by heavy rain destroyed 60% of agricultural land in the state. 
 
The state Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Animal Resources, John Garang Garang, says all farming activities have been suspended since the rains started in the first week of June. 
 
Garang says the state is classified at an emergency Phase-4 level and is expected to get worse in the coming months. 
 
He says at least 230,000 people have lost their crops covering 810,000 feddans and are at high-risk of hunger.
 
“These 810,000 feddans were supposed to feed the whole state but since we have lost this area, nothing will help and we are expecting the famine to start in 2020,” said the minister. 
 
The state government is looking to import food from neighboring Uganda and Sudan to avert a disaster. 
 
Partners are also distributing quick-maturing crops to affected households.  
 
Minister John Garang Garang spoke to Sani Martin.