Famine-hit South Sudan appeals for aid

South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Saturday appealed for assistance to help the war-torn country tackle a localized famine and also called for strengthened efforts to fight poverty.

Speaking at a fundraising event in Juba, Kiir called for immediate intervention from the citizens of South Sudan and the international community in order to rescue starving communities.

"Fighting poverty is a process and not something that can be done in one day, but fighting famine is immediate because nobody can go for two or five days without food and then survive. But you can live for years in poverty," he said.

Top athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya joined by over 2,000 South Sudanese took part in the Great Run South Sudan marathon on Saturday in a bid to raise funds to fight famine and poverty in the East African country where 100,000 people are facing starvation.

The 10km race led by retired Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete, Haile Gabrselassie, attracted donations worth 200,000 U.S. dollars from the African Union (AU) office in South Sudan and another combined pledge of nearly 70,000 U.S. dollars from top government officials.

Organizers said the proceeds, yet to be announced, would be used to help starving children, mothers and communities affected by famine in the northern parts of the country.

South Sudan has been devastated by civil war that broke out in December 2013 after President Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup. Machar denied the accusation but then mobilized a rebel force.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 led to the formation of a transitional unity government in April, but was again shattered by fresh violence in July, 2016.

Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have been killed, with over 2 million displaced since December 2013.

Last month, the UN declared a localized famine in parts of South Sudan, warning that some 100,000 people are already starving and another 7.5 million people, nearly half of the population need humanitarian assistance and protection.