AKIPRESS.COM - Conflict in South Sudan has triggered a serious risk of famine that will kill up to 50,000 children within months if immediate action is not taken, In2EastAfrica reported referring to the UN Children's Fund.

The African country has experienced high levels of malnutrition since it gained independence in 2011, and conditions have worsened since ethnic conflict broke out between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and supporters of his former deputy Riek Machar.

The agency also estimates that 3.7 million people are at risk of “food insecurity.”

“If conflict continues, and farmers miss the planting season, we will see child malnutrition on a scale never before experienced here,” said Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF representative in South Sudan. “If we cannot get more funds and better access to reach malnourished children in South Sudan, tens of thousands of under-fives will die.”

UNICEF’s immediate goal is to treat 150,000 severely malnourished children under five with food supplements, vitamins and water purification tablets, and to help pregnant or nursing women.

The agency needs $38 million but has so far raised $4.6 million.