JUBA, South Sudan, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A special panel has been formed in the South Sudanese state of Warrap to investigate reports more than 358 people have died of hunger, officials said.
Warrap's governor, Nyandeng Malek, confirmed the deaths have occurred but attributed them to other factors including disease, the Sudan Tribune reported.
"In South Sudan, many people, especially women have (a bigger) chance of dying of disease than hunger," she said. "There are no adequate medical services."
Local and national officials have blamed Warrap's state government for allowing people to die of malnutrition.
The Rev. Amet Kuol, a member of the legislative assembly, said a fact-finding parliamentary committee is being set up to look into the deaths.
He said tribal chiefs and other representatives have told lawmakers they have seen the graves of people reported to have died of hunger.
