A World Bank survey has revealed that poverty in South Sudan has hit a new high, with 66 percent of the population living in poverty.
The survey, dubbed Adding Human Touch to Poverty Data in South Sudan, was made public on Tuesday.
It attributes the high poverty levels to a slump in oil prices coupled with renewed violence since July.
“Securing livelihoods has become more and more difficult with 66 percent of the population now living in poverty, a new peak,” Utz Pape, a senior economist and the lead researcher wrote in an article posted on the World Bank website.
Pape revealed that the World Bank had started collecting short video testimonials from ordinary citizens to ascertain their daily struggles as economic hardships escalate in the world’s youngest nation.
Peace has eluded South Sudan since civil war erupted in December 2013.
A peace deal was signed between the country’s rivals last year but fighting has persisted.
