Authorities in Koch County of Unity State said a significant number of individuals who fled the conflict in Sudan have arrived in the county amid a lack of food and non-food items.
Nuor Riek, the county’s director of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that a total of 567 South Sudanese nationals have arrived in the county so far.
The relief official disclosed that he, along with a team of RRC officials, visited Nyaruop Transport to assess the situation of the returnees. He added that the team will continue to monitor the influx of individuals, with a plan to dispatch a group to Nyaruop Transport to accurately determine the number of new arrivals.
“On Tuesday, we visited Riokrial Payam, where we witnessed the arrival of 567 South Sudanese individuals and 96 households. They are currently being accommodated at Nyaruop Transport, Bentiu, and Juba. People typically return through Bentiu, Juba, and Upper Nile State,” Riek explained.
He emphasized the need to establish a dedicated team to gather daily arrival figures, as accurate information is crucial for effective response efforts.
Riek highlighted that humanitarian organizations are actively working to provide essential assistance, including food and non-food items, to newly-arrived individuals. He assured that Koch County authorities are committed to determining the exact number of returnees as the daily influx continues.
Riek expressed his concern about the sheer volume of people and the distressing scenes witnessed during their visit, particularly the vulnerable children. He emphasized the urgency for aid agencies to collaborate with local authorities to swiftly deliver much-needed food assistance. Additionally, efforts will be made to reunite South Sudanese returnees with their families in Koch County, he added.
One of the returnees, Mrs. Nyaluak Meat, shared her experiences escaping the violence in Sudan. Meat appealed for increased assistance from humanitarian organizations.
“I am a citizen of South Sudan. We came here due to the escalating fighting in Sudan. Those who arrived from Sudan lack shelter, water, and food,” she explained.
Another returnee, Chol Biel, who fled from Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, revealed that the conflict has adversely affected many South Sudanese residing in the north. Biel urged NGOs and UN agencies to provide urgent assistance, highlighting the lack of food, water, and proper shelter for her group of six children.
She described the arduous journey from Khartoum to Unity State, fraught with dangers such as robberies and killings. Despite the perils faced, Biel expressed gratitude for their safe arrival back in South Sudan.
The ongoing conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused hundreds of casualties and has the potential to escalate further. Gen Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan leads the army, while Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, commands the RSF.
Both sides have accused each other of violating ceasefires multiple times, indicating the possibility of a protracted conflict. The use of the air force by the army against RSF units in residential areas of Khartoum has caused significant damage and rekindled conflicts in Sudan’s Darfur region.