Inmates in Yei affected by scabies, poor sanitation

Prisoners in Yei suffer from the contagious skin disease scabies and live in crowded and unsanitary conditions, according to a civil society organization in the town.

Prisoners in Yei suffer from the contagious skin disease scabies and live in crowded and unsanitary conditions, according to a civil society organization in the town.

Community Empowerment for Rehabilitation and Development organization (CEFORD) released a report this week covering a three-month period about the conditions in Yei central prison.

The twelve page document details issues related to poor structures of the prison, trial cases, health conditions, sanitation among others.

According to the organisation’s human rights defender Khamis Bension, the general conditions of the prison and the inmates are not up to standards.

“We have realised that the inmates are really in congestion.. the prison is already old with cracks. We also found that the prison location is bad as it’s in the central town,” said Khamis.

“Looking at the health and sanitation conditions is poor, the inmates are continuously affected by scabies and many cases are there without trial,” he added.

On the other hand, the prison authorities said that there are 159 inmates in the cells who are in good living conditions. But the major in charge of the prison Gore Wurjo Kenyi also admitted some of the challenges facing the prison department.

“There are places that are not good that is why we are running up and down with the government to address the situation. Sanitation wise, the situation is good. The health officials have come here to dig latrines. UNHCR is providing us with blankets and the inmates are happy,” he said.

“On remand cases, there are people here for long because of murder cases however when they are here it’s not the duty of the prison but it’s the duty of duty of the judiciary to look into their issue,” he said.

But Benson recommended to the prison authorities to relocate and build modern prison facilities, improve on the justice system and introduce vocational education to the inmates.

According to the civil society organisation CEFORD, the report will be circulated to the relevant institutions and ministries to improve the management of human rights.