South Sudanese urged to help return home displaced relatives at UN camps

Only 10 percent of South Sudan’s displaced people have left overcrowded United Nations compounds across the country.

Now with the rainy season slowly creeping in, the camps will be almost inhabitable.

The UN, which assists about 180,000 of those still living there has made a plea to their families as well as religious and traditional leaders to help the destitute return home.

“You cannot live a dignified life in a POC [ Protection of Civilian site]. So it is important that religious leaders, political leaders as well as the traditional leaders keep on talking to their people so that they understand that they have a contribution to make,” said Sam Muhumure, Senior Co-ordination Officer for Relief, Reintegrate and Protection.

Muhumure further urged South Sudanese to “tighten their belts very strongly” explaining that “you have a transitional government in place. Everybody should accompany and support the transitional government to do what it is expected to do”.

He noted that individuals, families and community groups, all have a “contribution to make in order to ensure that people can get out of displacement and live dignified lives”.

The UN World Food Programme has further warned that 5.3 million people in the camps may face a severe food shortage until the lean season ending only in September.

From January to March, 2.8 million people were classed as being in “crisis” or “emergency” food situations, with about 40,000 thought to be suffering an outright famine.

Reuters