Returnees in Apada camp in Northern Bahr el Ghazal say that they face poverty and other problems including joblessness.

Garang Tong Bak, a resident in the camp, said that Apada has about 11,000 residents. He said many of them work in petty jobs such as cutting wood in the bush to sell at markets in Aweil town.

He added that there are tensions between Aweil Town Council authorities and Aweil Center County authorities over land issues. “We are waiting for each of them to come and demarcate the area for our development – the time is running without solution,” he said.

He said that there are not enough schools in the camp and secondary students have to travel a distance of 5 kilometers to attend school in the town.

Aliza Abuk, a woman at the camp, says life is difficult for them in the camp. “Our situation in terms of money is difficult. There only one primary school which will not host school children even many children dropped from school due to poverty especially food  which is seldom in the camp.”

She added that Apada needs to be surveyed but even if it is surveyed no returnee can afford the fee for a plot.