Sudanese nomads who have recently returned Sennar State following the fighting in South Sudan’s Upper Nile are reporting shortages of water, basic services and lack of education.
The Sennar governor identified Kokari village, which is about 40 kilometres from Abu Hajar Locality, as the resettlement site for the returned pastoralists.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, several herders in the area expressed concern about the poor situation. They said the returnees were experiencing a shortage of water besides spreading diseases among the children.
Saeed Adam Saeed, a sheikh from the village, said about 220 pupils live without schooling.
“People are suffering badly from a shortage of water – you know, the nearest water source is about six kilometres from our residential site,” he said.
“There is an outbreak of diseases among the children due to absence of medical services being provided in the area,” he added.
For his part, Sheikh Abdel Wahab Al Tuhami emphasized the need for the government to honour the agreement signed with the nomads to provide them with basic services.
“The rainy season is approaching, while the citizens are still living in an open area after they left their things at Goz Fami area,” he explained.
In a related development, the Member of Parliament representing Sennar constituency in the National Legislative Assembly, Yusuf Abu Ruf, stated the federal government had issued a strong instruction to the state authorities to undertake development projects in the newly identified areas for the returnees.
He also called on the national government to help in the provision of essential services to the needy people.