The local authorities of Warrap State’s Tonj North County said the health condition of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Alabek Payam is deteriorating as 17 people succumbed to hunger and diseases at the end of December and beginning of January.
According to officials, lack of medicines and food shortages are major challenges in the IDP camp, and floods have hindered the timely delivery of humanitarian aid.
Daniel Magar, the acting commissioner of Tonj North County, told Radio Tamazuj that the IDP camp needs special and urgent attention.
“Exactly the situation of Alabek IDP camp is not encouraging this is because those of Marial Lou fought between themselves forcing the civil population to leave their homes and relocate to Alabek Payam,” he said. “As I speak, the health situation in the Alabek IDP camp is terrible because the people have been overwhelmed by floods for more than three months and children are dying. People are suffering from hunger and different diseases including malaria and lack of proper shelter. So, some people ran to Aliak, Kuanyiel, and Athiengpol areas to seek food there.”
Magar added: “10 children and 7 adults died of diseases and hunger at the end of December and in early January and the government is planning to assist but the area is not accessible because of flooding.
Meanwhile, John Akot, the director of the Tonj North County Health Department, confirmed that the humanitarian situation in the camp is deteriorating due to natural disasters.
“The health situation in Alabek IDP camp is a bit okay however, it is challenging to reach some areas due to floods and poor roads. Also, some of these areas lack health services because they are not supported by the current Health Pooled Fund (HPF) project. So, we have some challenges in the health sector, he reported. “Due to insecurity in Alabek Payam where IDPs live, it is difficult for health workers to go there and provide services because people moved away from their residences and the health facility was vandalized. We have plans to go to Majak Lou and support them, however, there is no way as insecurity is still at its peak.”
Akot added: “As of now, we have a consignment at the Tonj North County headquarters but there is no way of delivering the services because insecurity is scaring health workers.”
He appealed to the government to provide security so that health services reach needy people dying of diseases and hunger.