The authorities of the Abyei Special Administration Area on Thursday said more than 300 refugees from Sudan were stranded at Amiet amidst the nationwide riots triggered by the allegations that the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) killed South Sudanese in Wad Medani, Al Jazirrah Sate in Sudan.
The officials said the refugees awaiting departure to their destinations were 390 and increasing.
Abyei’s Information Minister Bulis Koch told Radio Tamajuz that they managed to transport 74 individuals to Abyei Town and the rest would wait until the security situation is stabilized on the routes to either Ruweng or Aweil camps.
“The government of Abyei managed to transport 74 refugees because these are children, the elderly and the expectant mothers to Abyei Town because we lack vehicles,” he said.
Koch added that the living conditions were deteriorating as diseases like cholera were common and food was scarce.
“The living conditions of the Sudanese refugees are not good. However, humanitarian organizations had registered them in Amiet and distributed little food rations, blankets, mosquito nets, among others and offered psychosocial support because they are traumatized,” he said.
Koch appreciated the NGOs in Abyei for working hard to ensure that the refugees were sustained before reaching their respective destinations.
He urged other organizations to step in with more support.
“I call upon our partners to seek further medication to the refugees who were affected by the Sudan conflict, especially the incident of Wad Medani. These people need support and another challenge is that our hospital lacks medicines because of the over 2,000 Sudanese refugees that came on December 17,” he explained.
The Abyei Director for Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), Santino Mou, confirmed the situation.
“We have received the refugees who fled the Wad Medani killings. They have been registered by UNHCR but unfortunately riots started everywhere in the country, causing fear of movement since January 16. Due to the unrest, we could not transport them,” he further said.
Mou disclosed that one person was killed by an unknown gunman in Amiet camp Wednesday. He said he discussed the issue with deputy chief administration and that the security apparatus were pursuing the suspects.