Over 8,000 returnees in the Rotriak area of Rubkona County, Unity State, are currently facing a severe shortage of drinking water after fleeing conflict in Sudan since the beginning of May.
Mary Nyaweat, a returnee in Rotriak Payam, expressed her concerns to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, stating that they have been without clean drinking water for nearly a week. She made an appeal to aid agencies and the government to intervene, emphasizing that the returnees are also lacking financial resources.
Since their arrival in June 2023, the returnees have been grappling with water scarcity in Rotriak Payam. Nyaweat explained, “From June until now, we have not had access to safe drinking water. We continue to lodge complaints with the government of Unity State and UN agencies, urging them to provide us with clean drinking water.”
Another returnee, Veronica Nyruai Kuony, revealed that due to the lack of clean water, many people have resorted to drinking dirty water from the swamp, leading to numerous illnesses.
She stated, “The returnees are facing various water-borne diseases, such as diarrhea, as a result of the shortage of clean drinking water.”
Stephen Wichmuon, the Rubkona Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) communication officer, confirmed that at least 8,000 returnees in Rotriak Payam of Rubkona County are currently experiencing a water shortage.
He said the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) is partnering with the RRC to provide water to the returnees and address the crisis. Stephen appealed to GPOC, stating, “We urge GPOC to continue supplying water to the returnees and the entire population in the area on a daily basis for an improved quality of life.”
Stephen added, “I have informed the GPOC company to continue supplying water to the returnees.”
Reports indicate that Guit and Rubkona counties in Unity State have long struggled with clean water shortages since South Sudan gained independence in 2011. Guit County has relied on water supply from Sudd Petroleum Operating Company (SPOC), while Rubkona County received water from GPOC, as per an arrangement made between the two main petroleum operating companies in the respective counties.