By Hou Akot Hou
National Minister of Humanitarian Affairs has visited Northern Bahr El Ghazal with partners to assess the situation and needs of thousands of returnees and refugees camping at Kiir-adem.
He led a team that included representative from the International Organization for Migration, (IOM) and other humanitarian partners.
Since war erupted in Sudan in April, thousands of refugees and returnees have entered Northern Bahr El Ghazal.
Albino Akol Atak, the humanitarian minister told media that he wanted to ascertain the situation that the returnees and the asylum seekers are facing.
“There are a lot of problems, and they are human basic needs such as food, Non-food items and basic hygiene. These are worth pressing and we are coordinating as government to ensure that they are supported,” he stated.
He said that the UN partners like IOM have started delivering non-food items such as plastic sheeting and blankets to ensure them shelter in during the rainy season.
Akol’s team was escorted by Governor, Tong Aken Ngor, who on his part said that they have formed a team that delivered some supplies last week.
Governor Tong appealed to the national government and partners to double up efforts so as to give more supplies to address the plight of refugees and returnees as their suffering is culminating to bad conditions.
He added that government has identified some areas to relocate the refugees, apart from Kiir-adem, adding that the returnees are being enumerated and would subsequently be integrated into their communities.