04 March 2017, South Sudan (UNMISS) -- "We are happy because the United Nations has arrived here to bring us food” said Martha Nyordit, a mother of five in Padeah county of Leer in Unity, one of the areas that has been worst affected by the latest wave of famine.

Martha is just one of the Tens of thousands of people, who  emerged from the riverbanks and swamps to receive food aid delivered by the United Nations food agency - the World Food Program and partners this week, just a week after South Sudan's government and the United Nations declared a famine in Leer and Mayendit counties, with an estimated 100,000 people on the verge of starvation.

Martha said life has been quashed by the conflict, she has no home and her livelihood destroyed; “in this conflict we have suffered, we are running away hiding in the riverbank and the oldest women and men were killed,” said Martha reminding the world about the plight of the hungry, sick and scared populations in this part of the country.

“We are suffering from hunger, we are eating fruit and water lilies, and from December received food from ICRC just 2kgs which was not enough, we come for food but rush back to the river banks to hide.”

The population in Padhea has no access to medicines and health facilities. Martha spoke of the common sights of dead people many of whose lives have been taken due to lack of medicines.

“I am here now, but you return home to find someone you left breathing has already died, because they are hungry and sick.”

Martha’s children are all scattered throughout the UN Protection of Civilian sites and the riverbanks. she keeps hoping that peace returns soon so that she can reunite with her children and rebuild her life.

“if peace return I will be very happy, she said “I will seat at home, cultivate my gardens and I will go bring all my children from the Protection of Civilian site and the river bank, return home and rebuild our lives.”

As she received her sack of food supplies, Martha said she dreams of a day when peace will return, emphasizing that food deliveries without peace has little effect.

“Peace and food go hand in hand,” said Martha, “so what is the basis of eating this food , when you are not sure whether you will be alive the next hour” she said,  appealing to the United Nations to step in and help restore peace and stability in the country.

The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, who is also UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Eugene Owusu, led a delegation to Padea in Unity to witness the distribution of food aid to the starving population there.

Owusu, appealed to the donor community and international friends to support with the resources needed to scale up humanitarian response in South Sudan.

Listen to Eugene Owusu

Joyce Luma, the head of the UN’s World Food Program, said safety and security is essential to establish health centres and support livelihood activities. “While indeed we may come in and provide food assistance in this time when the situation is critical, we need to start really working with the communities so that they can rebuild their livelihoods.”

Listen to Joyce Luma

On Friday, the Special Representative of the Secretary General, who is also head of the UN mission in South Sudan, David Shearer, asked South Sudan’s political leadership to support its own citizens, who are in desperate need across the country and cease hostilities.

“It is the most vulnerable in society who are most affected by this shocking situation,” said David Shearer. “They are the women and children who have fled their homes and livelihoods in terror and taken shelter outside of South Sudan or, in the case of many, in the swamps and forests, where their coping mechanisms are rapidly being exhausted.”