UNHCR Hands Over Health, Education Facilities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal to Ease Refugee Strain

by Patricia John

AWEIL — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has handed over newly upgraded health and education facilities to the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State government and the Aweil West County community, aiming to bolster essential services strained by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

The handover is designed to strengthen support for thousands of refugees, returnees, and local host communities. Since April 2023, Aweil West County alone has received more than 35,000 refugees fleeing the violence in neighboring Sudan.

Critical Upgrades to Healthcare and EducationThe comprehensive handover includes major infrastructural and operational upgrades across two vital sectors:

Nyamlel County Hospital: UNHCR transferred critical medical equipment, a fully equipped operating theater, a blood bank, an expanded outpatient department, a laboratory, a vaccination unit, and a pharmacy. To ensure uninterrupted medical services, the facility was outfitted with a solar-powered water yard and a 25-kilovolt-ampere (kVA) solar power system.

Salvation Primary School (Wedweil): Four new classrooms alongside dedicated water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities for boys and girls were handed over, significantly expanding access to education for displaced and local children.

Speaking during the ceremony, UNHCR South Sudan Deputy Representative Mesfin Degefu emphasized that the facilities represent two critical pillars for long-term development and peaceful coexistence in the region: quality education and life-saving healthcare.

Degefu welcomed the growing partnership between the government and humanitarian agencies under the United Nations Area-Based Coordination approach, describing the handover as a milestone in strengthening public services for communities hosting displaced populations.

Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Riny Riny Lual, noted that sustainable development must begin at the local level, praising residents for playing a key role in laying the foundation for the Nyamlel County Hospital.