Third of South Sudanese face starvation as conflict rages - U.N

Sudanese children eat leaves torn off trees and boiled by their mothers to ward off starvation in the southern village of Paliang May 26, 2005. REUTERS/Antony Njuguna

OSLO (Reuters) - More than a third of South Sudan's population, 4 million people, will be on the edge of starvation by the end of the year as fighting rages on in the world's newest country, U.N. officials said on Tuesday.

Clashes between rebels and government forces have wrecked food markets and forced people to abandon their livestock and land, the aid experts added.