Farmers living in Yida camp for South Kordofan refugees in South Sudan’s Unity state report that birds and other pests have damaged crops in the area.

Some of the Yida refugees cultivate because they say the food ration given to them by the UN is inadequate for their families.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, several farmers said this year’s farming season would have been promising, if crops had not been wiped out by swarms of birds.

The complaining farmers blamed local authorities for being unable to respond in time with pesticides before birds ate up their crops.

Yasir Kuku, a farmer in Yida said, “My farm was successful, but swarms of birds have eliminated the crops, which worsened our living conditions now.”

They called on the international NGOs to increase the food rations so that it can feed all families at the camp.    

File photo: Sorghum crops in the Nuba Mountains (Radio Tamazuj)