Thousands of returnees who are seeking shelter in parts of Upper Nile State after fleeing the unrest in Sudan remain in dire need of humanitarian aid, local officials and returnees said.

War broke out between the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in In Khartoum in mid-April and quickly spread to other parts of the country resulting in the influx of returnees and refugees into Upper Nile State’s towns of Renk and Malakal. 

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, several returnees said they are living in dire conditions.

“I left Omdurman two weeks ago and we arrived safely in Malakal but the problem is that there is no sufficient food and we lack blankets mosquito nets and shelter,” One returnee who identified herself only as Elizabeth said.

Another returnee, John Deng, said the local population received them well but urged the government to intervene and help them with emergency supplies.

“Our government should find a solution to our suffering because we are helpless. One does not even know where they will start,” he said. “We were welcomed but the biggest problem now is the lack of clean drinking water and health services for the sick.”

Meanwhile, Upper Nile State Information Minister Luk Sadhalla Deng said they are overwhelmed by the increasing needs of the returnees.   

“A total of 117, 000 returnees have arrived in Malakal and Renk since the war started in Sudan. Every day we receive at least 2 boats full of returnees in Malakal,” he said. “We are thankful to aid agencies but the problem is that the needs of the returning population are overwhelming. Now, campuses of Upper Nile University and Buluk playground are full of these returnees and their humanitarian situation is dire.”

“There is a shortage of food and health services and two children recently died while being ferried to Malakal so we appeal for more intervention,” Deng added.

For his part, Yohanis William, the state Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) chairperson admitted the concerns raised by returnees and pointed out that they are coordinating with aid agencies to have the challenges addressed.

“Since the war in Sudan erupted, more than 100, 000 people have arrived. The majority of them are being airlifted to places like Wau and Juba while others are ferried to Jonglei on the Nile. We are working with our partners and the returnees are being provided with emergency needs as they arrive, pending resettlement or relocation,” he explained. “Those who are residents of Malakal are about 30 000 while in Renk there are about 20,000. We plan to have them supported while being integrated into the community. They will be provided with shelter.”