Hunger grips thousands of new South Sudan refugees in Uganda

ADJUMANI, South Sudan — South Sudanese refugees have greeted a visit by the U.N. refugee chief to their camp in Uganda with demands for better food.

The U.N. and partners are struggling to feed the refugees after about 70,000 surged into Uganda following new fighting in South Sudan’s capital in early July.

Last month, the U.N. announced that many South Sudanese refugees who arrived in Uganda before this latest wave would see food rations or cash allowances cut in half.

The refugees told U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi they are running “on empty stomachs.”

Grandi says the humanitarian emergency could become a disaster if things go out of control. He says resources are still insufficient.

The World Food Program says it needs about $7 million a month to provide the food assistance.