Morobo IDPs in Dire Need for Humanitarian Assistance

(Morobo) – Hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Sudan’s Morobo County of Central Equatoria State are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in the area. The IDPs fled Kendila, Gulumbi, Payume and Yondu villages following deadly clashes between SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces on Tuesday and Wednesday. The IDPs who are mostly women, children and the elderly told Access Radio that, they fled their ancestral villages for safety reasons. They said they are camping under mango trees, school and church buildings inside Morobo town without access to basic necessities such as food, medical service, shelter and clean drinking water. Peter Mokobe, a resident of Kendila village described their current situation inside Morobo town as worrisome. “We fled the area after hearing heavy gunshots while we were busy planting our maize crops in the garden. We fled at around 3:00 PM without our chicken and goats, clothes food stuff or mattresses. Wen run with children here and there is no body helping us with some food. We call on the government and humanitarian organizations to come to our rescue because we are afraid of returning to our villages to get something to eat” he added. Mary Umi, another local resident of Gulumbi village said they were shocked by random gunshots within her locality. She said they stretched long distance before reaching Morobo town without food and personal belongings. “I ran from Gulumbi village because we saw people running from Kendila to our village amidst sporadic gunshots and I saw one of our elderly villager who collapsed here because there is no food to eat. I run together with my children with out food or clothes and currently our situation is bad what we want is food even though the commissioner assured us of our safety and protection here” said stressed. Both Mary and Peter are calling on the worrying parties to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue to end civilian suffering and allow the local population re-settle and improve their livelihoods through food crop cultivation. Arike Timothy,  Morobo County deputy coordinator for relief and rehabilitation commission (RRC) said his office together with the humanitarian organizations are assessing the humanitarian needs of the displaced persons. “We are still in the process of gathering more facts on the exact numbers of IDPs who fled to settle here. We have been told there are nearly one thousand households camping under trees, the county head quarters, the police station, the catholic and Episcopal church compounds and some are still within St. Luwanga Primary school. The most immediate emergency needs are food, shelter and medicines” said Arike Arike said the county government lacks enough resources to provide humanitarian support to the fleeing  IDPs. He called on humanitarian organizations to intervene. For his part, Charles Data Bullen, Morobo County Commissioner said, the local  government is committed to restoring peace, safety and stability in Panyume, Gulumbi, Kendila and Yondu villages. He called on the local population to remain calm. “The security situation in Morobo County is under control and people should stay calm because the SSPDF forces are capable of providing security for the people of Morobo County. I want to assure the civil population not to worry but continue daily activities. I equally call on the IDPs to go to the RRC office for registration. I called on the religious and community leaders to sensitize the population to remain calm and stay in their places without fear” Data asserted. Morobo County is located 30 miles South of Yei River county along the Yei-Kaya road. The county also borders the democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.