Thousands of displaced people are surviving on wild leaves for food at Awerial Centre in Eastern Lakes State, the United Nations reported on Tuesday.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on its website that the displaced people, mostly women and children, who hail from Tali and Tindolo areas of Terekeka State complain that their situation has become unbearable in Eastern Lakes.
The community has suffered from drought in Tali and Tindolo areas for nearly seven years.
“For seven years, we have been abandoned to die. We lost so many of our dear ones to ruthless hunger,” narrates Achok Nyeki, a 23-year-old lady.
“Those that you see here managed to stay alive because they had cattle, which they could sell [to support themselves],” Nyeki said.
Mary Chuti, a mother of six children, said they are facing a lot of challenges including water, disease, and hunger.
“We survive on wild leaves,” she added.
Mary was relaying the dire needs of her community to an integrated team of UNMISS and the Eastern Lakes government, who came to assess their living conditions.
Awerial Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), a government agency, called on humanitarian organizations in support the displaced families.
“I am appealing to humanitarian agencies to hurriedly provide food and essential non-food items to these IDPs [internally displace people],” RRC Coordinator John Parach said.
“These people are in dire need of assistance, they sleep in the open, with few of them sheltering at a school; and it is the rainy season with lots of mosquitos,” he added.
Meanwhile, UNMISS Associate Program Management Officer, Edward Moini Angu reassured the displaced people that they stand in solidarity with them.
“We will urge the international community to support you. UNMISS will work with humanitarian partners to communicate your needs,” he said.