The commissioner of Nagero County in Western Equatoria State has called for humanitarian aid for thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled violence from neighboring Tambura County.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, the newly appointed commissioner, Henry Bangada Assaya, said the humanitarian situation of the IDPs from Tambura is dire as they are currently sheltering in schools and open spaces without food, clean drinking water, and medicines.
11,000 IDPs have been confirmed to have arrived in Namatina Payam while 17,000 others are in Duma Payam of Nagero County.
“I am the newly appointed commissioner of Nagero County and we are struggling with the issue of IDPs fleeing Tambura to Nagero County. I have nowhere to settle them but I have accommodated them at a school compound,” he said. “The IDPs that reached my county are a large number and I am calling for urgent humanitarian support in terms of water, shelter, and food to assist them very quickly.”
Commissioner Bangada added: “As I talk to you, I have nothing to help the IDPs but I have accommodated them and given them some little cassava flour which is not enough for them.”
He explained that the IDPs fled intercommunal fighting in Tombura which first erupted in 2021 and has since been intermittent.
“There is no one in Tombura town because everyone ran away following the road to Wau. There is a lot of violence happening in Tambura now and other people fled to Ezo and Yambio,” he said. “My call to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is that they should help me with the people who fled from Tambura to Nagero and are in a critical condition. We are hearing of cholera, and I need them to help with food, shelter, water, and clothes.”