People displaced by clashes from western Jonglei’s Duk County reportedly face hunger after rebel fighters attacked the area last week before withdrawing to the east.
After fighting last week officials from the Duk area claim to have counted 36 bodies, Sudan Tribune reported Monday, saying that rebels withdrew over the weekend.
The spokesman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Philip Aguer claimed in press statements in Juba on Monday that the rebels massed forces in Uror and Ayod areas.
Likewise, the commissioner of neighboring Twic County to the south stated that the rebels decided to withdraw toward Ayod and Uror counties.
Twic Commissioner Dau Akoi Jurkuch said that hungry refugees from Duk Country fled into his county in the wake of fighting.
“You know what happened when the fighting broke out in Duk County four days ago, the result of the fighting made people of the county to flee… more than 1,100 households based in three locations of Twic East are in need of help,” Dau said Monday.
“Their situation is really terrible – they need food, shelter, water and also medical services and now in Twic East we don’t have the facilities that can be provide for them. The NGOs like LWF (Lutheran relief) are now working and trying to provide a non food items,” he said.
The aid agency has provided non-food items like blankets, mosquito nets, and fishing nets. But county authorities acknowledge that the local government is unable to provide any assistance.
The commissioner appeals to the national and international humanitarian organizations and people of goodwill to provide assistance to the displaced communities.
Dau emphasized that since the rebels were flushed out three days ago the situation is calm.
Last week the acting Director General of the State Ministry of Health of Jonglei State, Dr John Kok Ayour described the many challenges at health facilities in the state.
He mentioned that many doctors and clinical officers have run away from the health centres.
“Our challenges now are we have shortage of nurses, and few doctors on the ground… our facilities are scattered and others under of the opposition control,” Kok said.
File photo: Houses burnt during a cattle raid in a village in Jonglei, South Sudan, 12 July 2013 (AFP/Hannah McNeish)