Over 1,000 returnees in Morobo in dire need of aid: official

More than 1,000 returnees in Morobo County of Central Equatoria State are “in dire need of humanitarian assistance”, a local official disclosed.

More than 1,000 returnees in Morobo County of Central Equatoria State are "in dire need of humanitarian assistance", a local official disclosed.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission’s coordinator in the county, Samuel Taban said the returnees who have sheltered at Panyana church building in Lujule payam lack food, clean water and medicines.

“As I talk now, they are at Panyana Episcopal Church. We have 221 families with a total of 1,137 people. So, we are calling on NGOs, government and other well-wishers to come and rescue those people before they die of hunger and diseases in the area,” he explained.

According to the local official, the returnees voluntarily crossed from several camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into Morobo, following improved security situation.

The conflict that killed hundreds of thousands of people in South Sudan has spawned a massive refugee crisis, pushing many of those fleeing the fighting to neighboring countries.

Last week, South Sudan’s new presidency called on refugees in neighboring countries to return home, vowing to provide all kinds of support to resettle them.