The international medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on Thursday released a report calling for urgent humanitarian aid for thousands of South Sudanese who fled fighting in Wau Shilluk area in Upper Nile.
The organization said in a statement that since late January nearly 30,000 people have fled fighting around Wau Shilluk area in the Greater Upper Nile, and moved to Aburoch town and the bush areas south of Kodok.
“The humanitarian needs of those that fled are vast and are not being met,” says Abdalla Hussein Abdalla, MSF’s deputy head of mission for South Sudan. “Most of the people who fled left all their belongings behind. They walked for days to escape the violence, and now they are in dire need of water, food, shelter and medical attention.”
MSF further said that it had launched an emergency medical operation to support the displaced population by opening a field hospital with inpatient, outpatient and emergency services in Aburoch, where up to 15,000 people have settled.
It added that two mobile clinics are also operating south of Kodok where part of the displaced population has settled.
The medial charity pointed out that for weeks people had only received an average of two liters of clean water per person, with 90% of families it visited lacking basic supplies such as plastic sheeting to protect them from the sun or the cold at night, jerry cans to collect clean water and cooking pots.
“Our doctors see many cases of respiratory infection and of acute diarrhoea which is partly explained by the terrible living conditions. Children, pregnant women and the elderly are especially vulnerable in this situation,” says Abdalla. “If more latrines are not constructed soon, and access to water is not improved, the risk of communicable diseases spreading through the population will increase.”
MSF expressed its concern over the insufficiency of humanitarian assistance available and reiterates its call for all those involved in the fighting to guarantee the safety of civilians.
“Many people don’t know where to settle because they are afraid the fighting will force them to flee again. It is essential that they are spared from any more violence, and that assistance is provided to them where they choose to settle,” said Abdalla.
The organization noted that its medical facility in Wau Shilluk has been looted after it suspended operations when fighting erupted in the area last month.
It further said during a recent survey in the area, it found that all medicines including life-saving drugs and essential supplies had been taken.
Photo: Displaced families in Upper Nile/MSF