Over 5,940 returnees in Juong Payam in Leer County, Unity State, are currently facing a severe shortage of clean drinking water.
The returnees, some of whom fled the conflict in Sudan and started arriving in the area in June, and others who left the Bentiu IDP camp due to hunger arrived in August.
Nyamuch Nyuon Liah, a resident, told Radio Tamazuj Sunday that they have had no access to clean water for nearly 7 months and appealed to local authorities, aid agencies, and the government to intervene.
“Since arriving, the returnees have been grappling with water scarcity in Joug Payam,” Nyamuch explained, “From June until now, we have not had access to safe drinking water. We continue to lodge complaints with the government of Unity State and UN agencies, urging them to provide us with clean drinking water.”
The community members often clash and fight at water points in Leer County due to the lack of sufficient clean water sources.
Another resident, Guet Kuong, revealed that due to the lack of clean water, many people have resorted to drinking dirty water from the swamp, leading to numerous illnesses.
“The returnees and residents have contracted various water-borne diseases like diarrhea as a result of the shortage of clean drinking water,” he said. “Our people always fight at the few safe water points in Rubkuai Payam because the boreholes are not enough for us.”
“We are appealing to the government of national Unity and state government to provide us with clean drinking water,” Kuong added.
For his part, Paulino Keah, the Leer County Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) coordinator, confirmed that at least 5,940 returnees in Juong Payam and Leer town do not have access to safe drinking water and said the Samaritan’s Purse International Relief is partnering with the RRC to address the crisis.
“We urge Medair International and Coalition for Humanity (CH) to continue providing the community with boreholes to improve the quality of life,” he said.
Reports indicate that Leer Town and Juong Payam in Leer County have long struggled with shortages of clean water.
According to local authorities, Samaritan’s Purse International Relief is the only humanitarian agency drilling boreholes in the affected areas but is winding up its operations this year.
“Five boreholes are not enough for our population, including the new arrivals, the returnees. We held several meetings with our partners Medair International and Coalition for Humanity (CH) on the issue of shortage of clean drinking water,” RRC’s Keah added. “They said their vehicles cannot go to the affected areas during the rainy season due to poor roads and lack of accessibility.”