Oxfam have called for action to prevent millions of people in South Sudan being hit by a deadly famine.

The warning comes after a report from the Famine Early Warning Network (FEWSNET) was released claiming a fifth of households in the South Sudanese town of Pibor could already be classed as hitting famine levels of hunger.

Communities in the area have suffered through four years of warfare which have depleted food stocks, preventing households from stockpiling food for times of hardship.

People in the region have been forced to eat grass and weeds to stave off hunger, causing them to fall ill.

Food availability has plummeted in Pibor, which sits in Boma state in the east of the country, after pests and flooding destroyed harvests. Boma also sees frequent and violent cattle raids from neighbouring states.

As the rainy season sets in, much of the food people depend on has to be flown in from Juba, however this sustenance is unaffordable for many.

South Sudanese rebels Show all 25 1 /25 South Sudanese rebels South Sudanese rebels A rebel fighter near the town of Kaya on South Sudan’s border with Uganda a day before the 26 August assault Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels Thousands of rebel troops have been killed since civil war broke out in 2013 Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels pray in Yondu, the day before an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 25, 2017 Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels parade in Yondu, the day before an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 25, 2017 REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels parade in Yondu, the day before an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 25, 2017. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic SEARCH "SPLA-IO" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels stand in line during a parade in Yondu, the day before an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 25, 2017. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels stand in line during a parade in Yondu, the day before an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 25, 2017. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic SEARCH "SPLA-IO" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels stand in Yondu, the day before an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 25, 2017 Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels An elderly SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebel cries as he talks to other rebels in Yondu, the day before an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 25, 2017. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic SEARCH "SPLA-IO" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels A SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebel carries a rucksack with picture of Bob Marley in Yondu, the day before an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 25, 2017 Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels walk in Yondu, the day before an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 25, 2017 Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels stand in Yondu, the day before an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 25, 2017 Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels hold up guns in Yondu, the day before an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 25, 2017 Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels march after an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers, near the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 26, 2017 Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels walk during an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 26, 2017. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels walk during an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 26, 2017. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels return fire as they march after an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the road between Kaya and Yundu, South Sudan, August 26, 2017. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebel fires his rifle during an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 26, 2017 Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebel gestures during an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 26, 2017. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels fire weapons during an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 26, 2017. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels carry an injured rebel after an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers, on the road between Kaya and Yondu, South Sudan, August 26, 2017. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels An injured SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebel lies on an improvised stretcher after an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers near the town of Kaya, on the road between Kaya and Yunde, South Sudan, August 26, 2017. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels stand after an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers, outside the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 26, 2017 Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels march after an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers in the town of Kaya, on the road between Kaya and Yondu, South Sudan, August 26, 2017. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic South Sudanese rebels SPLA-IO (SPLA-In Opposition) rebels drink water from a pond after an assault on government SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) soldiers near the town of Kaya, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan, August 26, 2017 Reuters/Goran Tomasevic

South Sudan was hit by a severe hunger crisis in 2017 with Leer and Mayendit declared in famine. Aid efforts averted an even greater catastrophe, however with this year's harvest not due until at least July, South Sudan is facing crisis again.

Nicolo Di Marzo, Oxfam's acting country director in South Sudan, said: “Waiting for a formal declaration of famine is not good enough. People are already starving and desperate.

"A woman in Pibor said that her family have resorted to cooking grasses and weeds that are making them sick – but that they have no choice if they want to survive.

“Aid efforts have so far kept famine at bay, but the need is growing at such an alarming rate that Oxfam and other aid organisations are struggling to keep up. We are seeing similarly worrying trends across the country.