The Commissioner of Kapoeta South County in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State says hunger has started to force local people to look for refuge in neighboring Kenya.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, County Commissioner Martin Lopir Lokopai blamed a lack of rain, which has resulted in a poor harvest in the area this year.

The official confirmed that nearly 3,000 local residents and conflict-displaced families have sought refuge in the Kakuma refugee camp in neighboring Kenya over the last three months.

Martin explained that the price of a 50 kg sack of sorghum, which is imported from Uganda and Kenya rose from 75 SSP to 250 SSP.

“The poor families cannot afford the sack of sorghum. This month the situation has become very difficult,” he said.

The commissioner pointed that he alerted the higher authorities and UN agencies to help the needy people as soon as possible. He said that aid workers have carried out a needs-assessment survey, but have not distributed food yet.