Over 200 internally displaced people forced out of parts of Warrap State by intercommunal clashes last year are appealing for humanitarian assistance, especially food aid.
The IDPs from Awul and Kanythi payams in Tonj South County are now seeking refuge in Wau town of Western Bahr el Ghazal state.
According to them, since their arrival, they were sheltering at Diir-Akok Primary School compound within Wau town but were later relocated to Masana Talib this week, a camp which has been hosting over 20,000 IDPs mainly from Jur River County.
Peter Akol, a traditional chief and head of the IDPs said they fled Warrap due to inter-communal fighting last year.
“What forced me out from there is fighting, it was one county fighting another. We arrived here on 26 June last year and spent 15 days in the eastern bank while the situation was not conducive and I again decided to proceed to Diir-Akok Primary School. I spent one year and three months there and again I was forced out from school when the school opened its door for the students because there was no room for us,” he said.
Akol said they have not received any humanitarian assistance since they arrived, adding that children are suffering due to a lack of food.
Marko Akot Wol also displaced said they have been surviving on mango fruits but since the season is over they have nothing to eat.
"For sure, the situation is very bad. No food despite the promise by the UN agencies to bring food. Up to now, we did not get anything, people are suffering badly, children and elderly are in a bad situation,” said Wol.
Another IDP, Akech Tong Chol said, “We have one year now without change. We are suffering from hunger and diseases and we are surviving on green leaves. We have not eaten anything since yesterday."
For his part, the Western Bahr el Ghazal state head of Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) confirmed aid agencies will soon respond to the needs of the displaced.
“Thanks to IOM that registered them and they were given ration cards at the same time. They are trying their level best and I have ordered them to do what they can do to these people,” said Musa.
He disclosed that his state is in communication with the Warrap state government to repatriate the IDPs back home.