Lawmakers representing Central Equatoria State’s Yei River County appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance on Monday for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Pokula and Mugo bomas of Otogo Payam.
Gada James of the SPLM Party said more than 400 households were displaced from Pokula and Mugo following clashes between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces. Residents from Pokula are now sheltering at Korobe Mountain, while those from Mugo have taken refuge in Mongo Boma in Otogo Payam.
“In Yei River County, which I represent, there are many people displaced from many areas due to the attack by some rebel group, specifically in Pokula Boma,” she said. “The people displaced from Pokula Boma, about 400 households, went up to a place called Marjuk at the foot of Korobe Mountain.”
James added that the humanitarian situation of the IDPs is worsening and urged the government and well-wishers to provide immediate assistance.
“Honorable Speaker, to draw the attention of the house, there are many displaced people. These IDPs are now yearning for humanitarian assistance. I urge the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to look into these displaced people and let us rescue them,” she said. “I would like to ask the entire House for humanitarian support for these people because there are children and women in the forests.”
In recent days, reports of armed attacks in Greater Yei River County have increased, especially along the Yei–Morobo road. The most recent incident occurred last week when armed men, alleged to be members of the SPLA-IO, clashed with SSPDF forces, leaving scores of civilians displaced.
On Monday last week, Paul Yoane Bonju, an MP from the Mugo area of Yei River County, raised a similar concern, saying civilians in Payawa Village along the Yei–Morobo Road were displaced as a result of clashes between SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces.
“Early morning at around 5 a.m., the SSPDF post in Payawa was attacked, and huts were set ablaze,” he said. “The attacker then moved west to a place called Undukori, an area located about 5 kilometers from Payawa.”
Bonju called on the government to address the matter, noting it involved SPLA-IO forces who are signatories to the 2018 peace agreement.
“I want to say, honorable speaker, the citizens in the areas that were attacked are suffering,” he added.
For her part, TNLA Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba directed the House’s Humanitarian Affairs Committee to coordinate the issue with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.