About 4,000 returnees in Jonglei State’s Akobo County have remained without food and shelter months after fleeing fighting in Ethiopia’s Gambella region where they had sought refuge following the 2013 civil war.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Saturday, several returnees said their situation was dire and appealed for immediate aid.

A returnee, Nyidieng John, said she has been sheltering at a church compound and had been unable to meet her basic needs since arriving in Akobo town five months ago.

“We left Gambella in May because there was fighting there between the Anyuak and Nuer. Our journey was very difficult and several people died in boats because of harsh weather and hunger,” she said. “Since we arrived in Akobo, there has been no food, medicines, or shelter. We just sleep in the church compound.”

Another returnee who identified himself only as James said the humanitarian situation in Akobo town is dire and also appealed for aid.

For his part, Akobo County Commissioner Puok Nyang confirmed the terrible humanitarian situation of the new arrivals and said that aid agencies were being engaged to intervene.   

 “Akobo is hosting a large number of returnees from Ethiopia and these people have yet to be assisted,” he stated. “The only group which received assistance were the 17,000 people who arrived in June. However, the number of returnees has now reached 40,000. They lack food, shelter, and medicine.”