Returnees at Afada camp for returnees in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state complained of poor sanitary and health conditions at the camp and blame authorities for insisting to relocate them outside Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.

Mr. Deng Ngok head of Afada camp for returnees in Northern Bahr el Ghazal stated that the returnees remained in difficult conditions since their arrival from Khartoum early last year 2011.

He said that the authorities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal repeatedly tried to deport the returnees from Afada on the grounds that the Afada area belongs to the University of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. The camp leader also explained that returnees are generally in poor health due to lack of treatment centers at the camp.

Ngok pointed out that IOM had established three health centers during the period from August 2011 until April 2012 and these centers are now out of work, adding that organizations helped returnees and the government of South Sudan.

He stressed that the returnees got back to the state because of the help provided by the organizations, and thanked the organizations to play their role towards the returnees, and blamed the government for failing to play their role towards the returnees, and said that they complained repeatedly because of the terrible and deterioration of health, education and other essential services the camp witness.

Ngok also said that two children had died due to deterioration of health conditions. He complained about the long distance between the camp and Aweil hospital, and appealed to the government to be aware of their role towards the returnees.