The commissioner of Nagero County of Western Equatoria State is in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State to lobby for humanitarian support for over 20,000 displaced persons, after about 10 children reportedly died of hunger.
Gabriel Mbolo Parnado told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that there is an influx of displaced persons from Tambura in his county following recent violent clashes there.
He said since the displaced started arriving in August, about 10 children have starved to death.
“Ten children have died of starvation because they don’t have anything to eat and this is why I come to Wau to lobby from the churches, UN agencies, and any willing samaritan to help the situation,” he said.
Commissioner Mbolo said the humanitarian situation is worsening for both the displaced and the people of Nagero County.
“I am here in Wau for a reason. I was supposed to report this problem to Yambio but there is insecurity between Tambura and Yambio. If I go, I may not reach. The problem of Tambura has brought to us a very big problem because the number that comes from Tambura is higher than our population in Nagero,” he noted.
Mbolo pointed out that food is not enough due to the outstretched number of people.
“The only food in Nagero now is groundnuts, cassava leaves, and pumpkin leaves and with the increase of IDPs in the area, the situation goes beyond our control. This is why I decided to come to Wau and talk to the humanitarian organizations in Wau such that if they have any assistance, they could help the situation,” he said.
Commissioner Mbolo also stated that the population lacks life-saving medicines.
“We only receive our drugs supply for three months but since July and with the arrival of these people, we run out of all drugs, people there are using tree roots for treatments which are not curing,” he added.
The commissioner said he has ordered the closure of schools to create space to accommodate the increasing number of displaced people mainly women, children, and the elderly.