More than 7, 000 returnees who have arrived in Longechuk County in Upper Nile State from refugee camps since late last year are suffering and lack food and social services, local officials said.
Dak Tut Dey, the county commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj Tuesday that they have been receiving returnees from neighboring Ethiopia and Sudan since last November because of the improving security situation.
“They started arriving in Longechuk in mid-November from Sudan and Ethiopia. In November alone, we received 300 households, and 9,021 households more in December and January,” he said. “The returnees were displaced by the 2013 war and some by hunger last year and since they returned, their situation remains dire.”
Meanwhile, Thuok Jock, the county Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) coordinator, called for urgent humanitarian intervention, saying the arrival of the returnees had worsened the already dire situation in the county.
“The population of the returnees is 7,686,” he said. “They have been absorbed into the community and this has stressed the little resources which were available in areas like Mathiang, Malual, and Dangok, among others. They need food, shelter, and medicines.”
On her part, Mary Buk, a returnee, said the basic needs have been lacking since she arrived a week ago after spending 9 years as a refugee.
“I came from Ethiopia a week ago and life there has been hard because we were many and food was insufficient,” she explained. “We decided to come to Longechuk thinking that it would be better but now the situation is worse and I think (refugee) camp is even better. Basic food and medicines are lacking.”
“We appeal to the well-wishers to come to our aid,” she implored.