By Manas James
Over than 3, 000 households who fled the war in Sudan have remained without food and shelter, months after arriving in Fangak County of Jonglei State, local officials said.
The war that broke out between the Sudanese rival military factions on 15 April in the capital, Khartoum has forced a large influx of returnees and refugees into South Sudan.
Fangak County commissioner, Bilel Boutrus Biel said that the conditions returnees remain dire because they are unable to tackle the rising need.
“Because of the war in Sudan, we have been receiving people coming back since April. Now the number is more than 10, 000 individuals,” he said.
Commissioner Biel appealed for humanitarian intervention.
“These people lack food, shelter, and medicines. The number is large for us to handle because we have been under floods and Fangak County is cut off by road from the rest of the state,” he said.
Spokesperson of the state legislative assembly, Wany Bum said returnees have been arriving in parts of the state in thousands.
He said the situation was worsening the already humanitarian condition, but the state continues to advocate for support.
“We are much aware of these returnees. As representatives, there is nothing else we can do than advocate for humanitarian intervention,” he said.
The spokesperson said the state has been welcoming the returnees while the national government facilitates their return.