South Sudan declares famine in parts of country

South Sudan’s government said on Monday that the country’s over three-year war has led to famine in parts of the nation, while nearly five million people -- half the population -- is going hungry. Isaiah Chol Aruai, the chairman of South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics, said some parts “are classified in famine, or... risk of famine”. “The long term effects of the conflict coupled with high food prices, economic crisis, low agricultural production and depleted livelihood options” have resulted in 4.9 million people facing starvation, he said.