By James Innocent
Community leaders from Lasu, Otogo, Mugwo, Yei Town Payam, and Tore Payams in Yei River County have raised concerns over limited access to healthcare, medicines, education, policing, and other essential services, calling for greater government and humanitarian support.
The concerns were raised during a one-day meeting that brought together chiefs, elders, women and youth representatives, security officials, the Paramount Chief of Yei River County, and the county commissioner.
Seberio Luo, an elder from Lasu Payam, said residents continue to face difficulties accessing medical services, with some patients having to travel to Yei Civil Hospital for treatment.
He appealed to the national government and humanitarian partners to strengthen health services in Lasu, saying the population has been increasing as security conditions improve and more people return to the area.
Luo also called for greater use of locally available resources to improve community services, particularly healthcare facilities.
Unis Moriba, a women’s representative, said the health centre faces shortages of medicines and other medical supplies, particularly during emergencies.
She also called for greater support for women in Lasu to reduce their vulnerability and improve their participation in community development.
Batali Oliver, the Lasu Payam youth leader, said crime involving young people had declined but raised concerns about the lack of adequate detention facilities.
He said some suspects accused of committing crimes are released because of limited facilities and called for criminal cases to be handled through the appropriate legal process.
Any allegations of criminal conduct, however, should be investigated and determined through due legal procedures.
Dusman Jengo, head chief of Tore Payam, raised concerns about what he described as heavy taxation at checkpoints along routes connecting Tore and Yei Town Payam.
He also raised concerns over the movement of Ambororo cattle herders, alleging that their livestock have damaged community resources.
Jengo said community discussions had generated concerns about the continued presence and movement of the cattle herders, highlighting the need for dialogue and peaceful mechanisms to address disputes between communities and pastoral groups.
He further said thousands of people from Tore had returned from refugee settlements in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, placing additional pressure on already limited public services.
According to Jengo, only one school is currently operating in the area, with a shortage of teachers. He also cited limited access to healthcare, a lack of medicines, and insufficient police presence as major challenges.
Joseph Brown Lomose, the Paramount Chief of Yei River County, commended the county authorities for bringing community leaders together to discuss challenges affecting residents.
He said continued dialogue between government authorities, traditional leaders, and communities was important in identifying practical solutions to local security and development concerns.
Yei River County Commissioner Samuel Henry Malimbo thanked the people of Lasu for working with government authorities to address challenges affecting the community.
Malimbo assured residents that an ambulance would be made available to support emergency healthcare and improve the transportation of patients in Lasu Payam.
The commissioner also emphasised the importance of cooperation between communities and government institutions in improving service delivery.
Major General John Lual, the SSPDF commander for Greater Yei, called on community leaders to work closely with security institutions to address security-related challenges.
He urged local leaders and residents to cooperate with security authorities while ensuring that disputes and criminal allegations are handled through established legal procedures.
The meeting focused on security threats affecting humanitarian workers and their ability to deliver services to vulnerable communities, alongside broader challenges in healthcare, education, security, and development.
It followed a recent engagement organised by ACROSS, a humanitarian organisation operating in Yei, and brought together representatives from all five Payams of Yei River County.
The discussions highlighted the continuing pressure on basic services as communities receive returning populations and seek to rebuild local institutions following security improvements.