By Nakwam Rose
Youth Organization for Peace Support and Abyei Administrative Area Relief and Rehabilitation Commission have distributed food to Sudanese refugees.
The initiative aims to alleviate the dire conditions faced by those displaced by ongoing conflict.
Daniel Rech Ador, chairperson of RRC in Abyei, emphasized the critical need for the aid, stating that it would be distributed to individuals in a “dying state” due to severe shortages.
“The Youth Organization for Peace Support has visited this location and the refugee population, bringing with them a small but sustainable supply of food items,” Mr. Daniel explained. “This will be distributed to a few of the most severely vulnerable individuals.”
Sarah Atoj, the deputy chairperson of the Youth Organization for Peace Support, affirmed her organization’s ongoing commitment to supporting the refugees.
However, she painted a stark picture of the conditions within the camp, describing it as being in a “sorry state” and urgently requiring more assistance. She stressed that the situation is “devastating” and continues to deteriorate.
Atoj appealed to other humanitarian organizations to collaborate with the Abyei community in order to relocate the refugee population to safer and more adequate living spaces.
“The situation in the camp is very devastating, with everyone lacking basic necessities such as food, shelter, and water,” she stated.
“While the Youth Organization for Peace Support has been able to provide this initial food and non-food items to refugees and returnees, the question remains: what next? There is a significant amount of work that needs to be done.”
She further emphasized, “this is a call for help to various organizations and institutions to support the local government and authorities within the Abyei Administrative Area to help relocate the refugees and returnees from this conflict.”
Rose Thomas, a representative of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), conveyed her sincere appreciation to both organizations for their prompt response during this critical time.
“I want to thank the Youth Organization for Peace Support, together with the Administrative Area Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, for the support they have rendered to the refugees in Abyei,” Ms. Thomas noted.
The camp in Abyei was initially intended as a temporary transit point. However, due to persistent challenges, many individuals have remained there for an extended period, desperately hoping for resettlement in more stable environments.
The recent aid distribution offers a much-needed respite, but the urgent need for comprehensive and long-term solutions remains critical.