Authorities in South Sudan’s Yei River State are appealing to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to reverse its decision closing down five Ebola screening points along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo border.
In a press statement on Wednesday, IOM said it had suspended Ebola screening at Isebi, Bazi, Kirikwa, Lasu, and Okaba entry point until the safety of their personnel is guaranteed. The suspension followed the death of three of its workers who were caught in the crossfire on Sunday morning in Isebi.
Yei River State health minister Christine Anite Philip told Radio Tamazuj today that the suspension has put South Sudan at high risk of importing the Ebola disease.
Anite said thousands of people move across the border daily.
“We are appealing to IOM to re-open at least two screening points in Okaba and Bazi because of the huge movement of people along those routes. Ebola is a dangerous disease and Yei is near to DRC. I am worried that if the people are not screened and if there is an Ebola outbreak in Yei it will spread all over the country,” she pleaded.
For his part, Yei River State Deputy Governor Yusto Baba said the government is working to improve the security situation to allow humanitarian organizations scale up Ebola activities along the border.
Baba said after an assurance to beef up security, IOM promised to reopen the centres.
“We have concluded a meeting with the chief of IOM who has considered our appeal to reopen these centres,” he said.
There are more than fifteen porous entry points along South Sudan- DRC border.
Last Sunday, government forces clashed with the opposition National Salvation Front rebels in Morobo.