US star pleads for peace in South Sudan
Hollywood actor Forest Whitaker has pleased for peace in South Sudan. The actor is in South Africa for the World Economic Forum Africa in Durban.
Speaking during a panel discussion Whitaker, who is a United Nations Global Peace Ambassador, pleaded for international intervention to negotiate peace in the South Sudan.
He said it would cost an estimated $4.4 billion to avert a full-blown famine, that could end up claiming six million lives.
"1.8 million people have already been displaced while 1.7 million people are refugees," he said.
Whitaker added that there is immense frustration in South Sudan as a result of food insecurity.
"The food insecurity in South Sudan stands at almost 50 % and the UN has to step up in terms of negotiations to try and bring peace and stability to the area," he said.