Over 114 returnees who recently arrived from Sudan are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in Mayendit County in Unity State.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which commenced on April 15th, has compelled South Sudanese returnees and Sudanese refugees to move to various parts of South Sudan.
Stephen Nyang, one of the returnees, told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that they lost many children during our arduous journey.
“Many children died inside the boats we used to travel from Renk County in Upper Nile State to the Unity State’s Nyaruop Port. Most of us also lost all our personal belongings,” he said. “The journey from Sudan was challenging, involving travel from Sudan to Renk County and then to Nyaruop Port in Unity State’s Koch County before finally reaching Mayendit.”
“We have been suffering since June with no humanitarian response in sight,” Nyang added.
He said they lack medicine among other necessities and appealed to humanitarian agencies to urgently come to their aid with emergency assistance.
For his part, Mayendit County Commissioner Dr. Gatluak Nyang the arrival of the returnees and said they lacked necessities.
“Since the conflict erupted in Sudan, we began receiving these returnees. We have managed to provide them with settlement assistance but their fundamental needs remain unmet. We are actively engaging with our partners to ensure they extend their support,” he said. “I have held several meetings with the UN to secure assistance for the returnees’ needs. However, the escalating prices of commodities in Mayendit County exacerbates the situation.”
“The returnees are unable to afford the high-priced food items available in the market,” Commissioner Nyang.
In alignment with the plea for aid, Mathew Ran, the director of the state’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), disclosed that the influx of returnees from Sudan has overwhelmed Mayendit County.
“We have a significant influx of returnees comprising 302 households and 114 individuals in Rubkuach Payam and Tutnyang Payam airstrip,” he said. “These individuals are in a dire state, urgently requiring food and shelter. Additionally, we are in dire need of a measles vaccination campaign to safeguard the lives of the children.”
Two weeks ago, a team from the World Food Programme (WFP) registered the returnees.