Over 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Lainya County of Central Equatoria State are in dire need for humanitarian assistance, an official said Tuesday.

Sadik Augustin, the county coordinator for Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the IDPs, mostly women, children and the elderly, require food and non-food items.

He said the IDPs fled Loka, Kenyi and Bereka villages into Lainya town following clashes between pro-government soldiers and the National Salvation Front (NAS) forces.

Sadik urged humanitarian organizations in the country to intervene, saying IDPs survive on mangoes, wild fruits and sleep under trees.

“Based on my observation, people on the ground are suffering and since it is a rainy season, most people do not have shelters. Humanitarian organizations should urgently provide carpets, water guard, cooking utensils and supply food to the IDPs,” he explained.

Sadik said local authorities are conducting health awareness on COVID-19 to avoid its spread within the communities.

“We have laid out a strategy to conduct civic education on the prevention of coronavirus and we have been telling the IDPs to observe social distancing,” he said.

The official cited lack of hand washing facilities and face masks as major setbacks in efforts to fight against the spread of the deadly pandemic.

South Sudan has so far recorded 347 cases of the novel coronavirus.