By Alan Clement
Returnees from Panthou/Heglig currently sheltering in Kuajok have received emergency food assistance and essential non-food supplies to address immediate humanitarian needs and stabilize vulnerable households amid ongoing displacement challenges.
According to the governor’s office, the distribution, carried out on Saturday at Kuajok Modern Secondary School premises, followed the Governor’s recent visit to the site where he observed displaced families mostly women and children enduring cold nights and severe hunger.
According to Ajiek Maruop, Chairperson of the State Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), the donation included 150 bags of flour, 65 bags of beans, five bags of sugar, 13 jerrycans of cooking oil, three cartons of salt and 20 cartons of soap.
“This support comes directly from the Governor’s office and reflects his commitment to alleviating the suffering of returnees who are in urgent need,” Maruop said in a statement.
The Governor’s office emphasized that the intervention was both immediate relief and a signal of broader engagement.
“Governor Agoth has assured the returnees that the national government and humanitarian agencies are being actively engaged through the State RRC to ensure further assistance is made possible for vulnerable people,” the office stated in a statement.
Humanitarian partners welcomed the move, describing it as timely amid growing needs. Abraham Maker of Norwegian Church Aid said the assistance came at a critical moment, adding that the organization would continue supporting affected communities, particularly during the festive period.
The returnees from Panthou/Heglig are part of a larger group displaced by conflict and insecurity along the contested border areas between Sudan and South Sudan.
Many families fled violence and instability, arriving in Warrap State with limited resources and facing harsh living conditions.
Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned of growing needs among displaced populations in South Sudan, where food insecurity, poverty and limited state capacity compound the crisis.
Relief efforts often rely on partnerships between government authorities and international NGOs to provide emergency assistance.
Governor Agoth’s intervention highlights the role of state leadership in bridging gaps while national and international actors mobilize longer-term support.
Officials said the donation is intended not only to address immediate hunger but also to reassure returnees that their plight is being recognized at both state and national levels.