Authorities in Warrap State said recent fighting in Abiemnhom County, part of the Ruweng Administrative Area, has displaced around 13,000 people, who have sought refuge in Ajakuac Payam, Twic County. They warn that the displaced are in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
The crisis was triggered by an attack on Biemnhom town on Wednesday, carried out by armed youth from Mayom County in Unity State.
John Mabior, Twic County’s acting commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that those fleeing were arriving with severe shortages of food and water.
“I want to tell the people of South Sudan what happened in Biemnhom, where armed youth attacked the county headquarters and 13,000 people fled to Ajakuac Payam. They were still coming, with some proceeding to Wau via Kuajok and others to the Aneet area,” he said.
Mabior said the displaced faced critical shortages of basic necessities.
“The IDPs are in dire need of essential services because the water points in Ajakuac are few. There is insufficient drinking water and no food, though the host communities have tried to provide them with amounts that could last for two days. We thank the Twic community for welcoming the Biemnhom IDPs and hosting them in their houses and schools.”
He appealed to the government, NGOs, and well-wishers—both in South Sudan and abroad—to assist, describing the challenges as “unbearable.”
James Ajiek, executive director of Warrap State’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), confirmed the severity of the situation.
“The situation of the IDPs needs collective interventions from the government and humanitarian organizations because they left their belongings behind as they were brutally attacked by armed youth from Mayom County. We currently have 13,000 IDPs in Twic County, and they are facing severe shortages of food and non-food items,” he said.
Mr Ajiek added that a meeting with NGOs would be held on Monday to coordinate a response.
Tor Malual, paramount chief of Ajakuac Payam, said locals were pooling resources to help but warned that supplies were limited.
“The IDPs are staying with us, and their condition is terrible. We collect flour, dura, and beans in the market, but Ajakuac is a small market with limited supplies, delivered only by motorcycles,” he said.