United Nations, December 7 (RHC)-- The United Nations has voiced alarm over dire living conditions in South Sudan’s war-zone regions, saying tens of thousands of people there are facing death by starvation.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN children’s fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP) said in a joint statement that “at least 30,000 people are living in extreme conditions and are facing starvation and death.”

Sources say those worst affected are in the northern battleground state of Unity, once the country’s key oil-producing region, which has been a scene of heavy fighting between government troops and rebels.

Latest UN figure shows some 3.9 million people are in crisis -- a third of the country’s population. The figure marks a massive 80-percent rise compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, WFP chief Joyce Luma, has said that the counties of Leer, Guit, Koch and Mayendit, are the hardest-hit areas, where aid agencies have been forced to pull out in recent months due to fierce fighting. “People are on the edge of a catastrophe that can be prevented,” Luma said.

The world body has also warned that thousands more are on the brink of famine across the conflict-torn country.