South Sudan Presidential Spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny denied that the regime of Salva Kiir Mayardit was responsible for the famine threatening some parts of the country.

In statements to the BBC Radio on Tuesday, Ateny held the rebels and their abettors responsible for the starvation hitting some parts of South Sudan. 

UNICEF said in a report that South Sudan is reeling from conflict, poverty and insecurity. Over 270,000 children are severely malnourished. Famine has just recently been declared in parts of Unity State in the northern central part of the country, where 20,000 children live. 

The total number of food insecure people across the country is expected to rise from 4.9 million to 5.5 million at the height of the lean season in July if nothing is done to curb the severity and spread of the food crisis, UNICEF added.

Source: MENA