South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
At least 1,754 returnees urgently require humanitarian assistance in Gumuruk and Pibor within the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
David Ngiro Yangkon, the chairperson for the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, has called on humanitarian agencies to provide the returnees with basic necessities, including food and shelter.
“We managed to hire trucks to transport returnees to Pibor, while others used commercial flights. We have registered 1,754 people so far, and they are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, as they do not have food or shelter,” Yangkon said in an interview on Thursday.
“Some of the returnees have integrated into local communities, but others lack family support and are in dire need of assistance. The situation is very critical, especially now that the rains have started, and they have no homes to shelter in,” he continued.
Yangkon explained that the initiative to hire trucks for transporting returnees to Pibor was taken by the government, emphasising the need for support to help them adapt to life in their communities.
Yangkon also highlighted that the primary needs of the returnees are food and shelter, as well as access to health facilities.
“My message to humanitarian organisations is to ensure that they are supporting these vulnerable communities. Some returnees are coming from refugee camps, while others are returning from displaced persons’ camps within Juba and other parts of South Sudan. They need assistance,” he said.
“The government need provide food and other essential services, as well as security for those returning to South Sudan. The environment needs to be conducive for them to come back, and the government of South Sudan must be prepared to facilitate their transport back to their places of origin,” he concluded.
