Health officials in Rubkona County of Unity State have declared measles outbreak among returnees displaced by conflict in neighboring Sudan.
Jal Kuol Malow Rubkona County health director, said on Sunday that they have confirmed so far 86 cases of measles among returnees in Rotriah Payam health facility and Bentiu internally displaced persons camp.
“We have confirmed 86 cases of measles outbreak in greater Rubkona and most of these cases are among returnee children aged 4-6 years old,” Malow said during an interview with Juba Echo.
He disclosed that the affected children were not vaccinated against measles while still in war-torn Sudan.
“The Ministry of Health and Humanitarian partners conducted measles vaccination campaign in Rotriah Payam for returnees, and similar measles vaccinations campaign will take place this week in Rubkona town and Bentiu internally displaced camp,” Malow said.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), South Sudan is currently hosting more than 138,000 returnees including refugees who fled fighting in Sudan across the 12 border crossing points.
The conflict in neighboring Sudan erupted on April 15th following disagreement between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and his former deputy in the Sudan Sovereign Council Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti.
The two leaders after overthrowing the transitional civilian led government in October 2021, disagreed on the process of integration of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Dagalo into the SAF leading to fighting.
