Humanitarian Minister promises support for Sudanese refugees

By Hou Akot Hou

The National Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Albino Akol Atak visited Kiir-Adem in Aweil North County where thousands of Sudanese refugees are being hosted.

Akol said the refugees and South Sudanese returnees need food and non-food items like lean drinking water, soap and medicines.

 “There are a lot of problems; these people need basic needs such as food, non-food items and basic hygiene. These are pressing needs and we are coordinating as government to ensure that they are supported,” said Akol during his visit to Kiir-Adem on Friday.

Akol was accompanied by the team of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). IOM delivered items like plastic sheeting and blankets for the displaced people to help shield them from the upcoming rainy season.

The Governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State,Tong Aken Ngor, said that his government already delivered last week some assistance to the refugees and returnees.

He appealed to the national government and partners to also extend more assistance to the refugees and returnees.

Ngor said that his government will relocate the returnees to some designated areas away from Kiir-adem.

South Sudan has received more than 50,000 returnees and refugees since outbreak of conflict in neighboring Sudan on April 15.