For years the goal had been to establish peace as ongoing conflict hampered cultivation and left more than 7 million people across the East African nation in need of humanitarian assistance.

Famine was formally declared in two northern counties in February and Oxfam warned half the country's population was expected to be affected by extreme hunger by July, if they don't receive help.

Mr Jurkuch said while numbers were hard to define he anticipated that hunger related deaths were happening each day.

"When you walk around the community people are desperate," he said. "Starvation is high, there is no food and we see it getting worse."

But the impending threat of the rainy season, which starts in April or May, would make conditions even more difficult for the community nearby the River Nile.

Floodwaters closed roads impeding access to people in need, forced people from their land and homes and caused an influx of waterborne disease affecting people and livestock.

"People are willing to cultivate but they find the floodwater washes away the crop and leaves them starving," he said.

"When you walk around the community people are desperate. Children are severely affected and elderly people as well. They don't have transport. Aid agencies are trying to establish feeding centres but things are not enough. There is a very big population of people looking for help but little to go around."

Canberra's South Sudanese community have rallied together to send help. In early March they raised $8000 at one community event and hope to host another two fundraisers, the next planned for April 1.

ACT Ayual community leader William Deng said the South Sudanese community in the capital faced their own challenges securing employment and making ends meet but it was impossible to ignore the hardship and need in their homeland.

"We are facing a lot of challenges as South Sudanese in general but we don't give up," he said.

"If we come together, like we did, people give what they can. But we are calling on the wider Australian community. They may not have the network to know what is going on at the grass-roots but someone like Dau can explain what it is like and how to help."

Money raised in Canberra would be sent to Nairobi where teams purchased food and medical items.

This lifeline would then be transported to Juba and packed into lorries for the difficult drive to Twic East on bad and flood-damaged roads.

Mr Jurkuch said members of his community's survival hinged on generosity from places such as Canberra and help would not be forgotten.

Take part in the fundraiser event or donate by contacting williamdemanyok@gmail.com or 0431 560 153.