Armed opposition faction (SPLA-IO) troops who reported themselves to Irube cantonment site in Torit State for registration and screening since last week, lack shelter, medical care and food, a top commander said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, the SPLA-IO commander for Tafeng division, Major General Patrick Ohiti Osfaldo said his forces are sleeping under the trees and that they depend on the rice recently brought to the site, but it is not enough.
“The forces are staying under the trees and some people have plastic sheets which they use to cover themselves when it rains. Registration has started and we have finished with Major Generals. Brigadier Generals also completed the registration process and as we speak now, the process is ongoing smoothly without challenge,” he said.
The brigades of Ikotos and Lopa/Lafon have not yet reached the cantonment site due to lack of transport, according to Ohiti.
“My message to the government is that they should come with tents to help the soldiers. We also need bed sheets, we don’t have medicines to help people in the cantonment site and there is no food and no flour,” he explained.
Brig. Gen. Kornelio Abele Lomilomoi, a member of the Joint Military Ceasefire Committee (JMCC), confirmed that rice was delivered to the cantonment site, but flour is still lacking. He said food previously meant for Irube cantonment was taken to Nyara forces after they rejected Irube as a cantonment site.
“The food actually arrived there, that is rice, Egyptian beans and cooking oil, but there was no flour. The first food was kept in the store and taken to Nyara. That is why they are complaining,” he said.
Abele further said a complaint was raised to the Juba team by the JMCC and all the challenges facing the forces would be addressed as soon as possible.
On Tuesday, peace monitors warned that time was running out for the cantonment, selection and training of the necessary unified force to be completed by September 30.
The number of states and security arrangements remain the two biggest challenges in the September 2018 peace deal.