UN says security key to revamping food basket of South Sudan

Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) David Shearer said on Thursday that improved security is essential to reinvigorating food production disrupted by fighting in former Western Equatoria region.

Shearer said a wide range of food products for the rest of the war-torn country came from the region, but production has slowed because farmers are no longer able to plant crops due to ongoing insecurity and displacement.

"Security is the key to getting farmers back to their land, security was also essential on the road network to allow trade and the distribution of agricultural products," Shearer said in a statement issued in Juba.

This came after the UN on Monday declared famine in parts of South Sudan, especially some 100,000 people believed to be starving in the northern Unity state, and a further one million on the brink of starvation while 5.5 million (40 percent) of the population are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

Shearer also lauded local authorities for their commitment to boost agricultural production and move towards self-sufficiency.

UNMISS hopes the imminent swearing-in of the new Governor of Gbudwe State will be an opportunity to reset and improve relations between local communities and government forces operating there.

The UNMISS Head also said he supports reconciliation efforts, especially to reintegrate young people into the community who had joined armed groups active in the area.

The region has of late experienced relative calm, since the renewed July clash spillover caused insecurity due to intermittent fighting between government troops (SPLA) and SPLA-in opposition (SPLA-IO) alongside armed groups like Arrow boys. Endit