Internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the Abyei Dau camp in Twic County, Warrap State, are facing deteriorating living conditions after torrential rain destroyed their temporary shelters on Tuesday.
Deng Kuthuc Deng, the camp chairperson, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that children, elderly people, and expectant mothers had to sleep in the rain after their shelters (Arakumaat) were demolished by the storm.
“Stormy rain hit around 2 PM local time on Tuesday, destroying all the shelters in the camp. One person narrowly escaped death when a palm tree fell on his hut, managing to run to a neighbour’s hut as the wind intensified. The situation is terrible; everyone is now trying to rebuild the shelters,” Deng lamented.
He reported that over 50 shelters were destroyed by the strong wind and rain, and no assistance has been provided by the government or NGOs.
“The shelters, over 50 of them, are all destroyed. The health conditions of children and the elderly are particularly concerning, as everyone had to sleep on the open ground. The wind also destroyed the plastic sheets distributed in 2022, and the dry grasses have been exhausted,” he emphasized.
Deng, the camp chairperson, acknowledged the humanitarian support but expressed concerns about the harsh living conditions and uncontrollable market prices.
“The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) provided each family with SSP 14,400 on Monday. However, this amount is insufficient, as it barely covers two days of meals for a family. A malwa of sorghum (equivalent to 7.5 kg) costs SSP 8,000 in the markets,” he said.
Achol Bol, a woman in the IDP camp, confirmed the dire need for assistance, particularly for children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
“We came from Malakal in March this year, and the rain has destroyed the plastic sheets covering our shelters. Now, we are all staying under trees, and the situation is chaotic. Some people are living by the roadside, exposed to the rain. We don’t know what to do,” she said.
Achol added, “There are no nearby houses from host communities where we could seek shelter for our children. This camp, where people from Khartoum, Abyei, and Malakal are staying, is far from local settlements. We are using bed sheets to cover the children. What can we do?”