The Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in Eastern Equatoria State says at least 1,979 returnees have arrived in Ikotos County and that the numbers keep increasing as they register new returnees daily.
Odwa Nicolas, the county RRC coordinator, told Radio Tamazuj that the returnees started arriving in December.
He said in collaboration with the Women Initiative for Development Organization (WIDO), they have deployed their personnel in the area to assess the situation of the returning population.
“The total households are 288, in terms of people we have 1,360, this is the number we registered till 15th February and from then up to yesterday and today we registered 102 households, the total number of people is 1,979,” he explained.
“We need seeds and farm tools for these people because it is the time for cultivation. We also need shelter for these people, the rain will soon come so that it can help them. Most of the health centers were closed and we don’t know the future of these people, other health organizations will close this month,” he added.
Nicolas urged the returnees to cooperate with those living there and share the available resources.
Some returnees revealed that the situation in the neighboring camps has worsened and forced many to return to their homes.
Regina Itoo, a returnee from Palabek Refugee Camp and a mother to seven, said she was happy to be back and reunited with her family members, adding that there was hunger at the camp.
“What let me return to Ikotos here is the issue of hunger in the camp there, education and living conditions are poor there,” she said.
Cyprian Ochunya, another returnee said he came back as hunger hit the camp.
“The issue of hunger and there is even no education there and what took me to Uganda is the conflict which was here in Ikotos,” he said. “I need support with food and education for my children because if children are attending school, it will be good for me.”
Kasara Margaret, Project officer for WIDO, Ikotos field office, urged humanitarian agencies to assist the returning population.
“I am appealing to the government officials and any NGO who can assist to support these people. They are in critical humanitarian condition, some of their children especially the young ones are malnourished, they need support,” she lamented.