By Hou Akot Hou
More than 300 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Abiemnhom County in the Ruweng Administrative Area have arrived in Tiar-Aliet Payam of Aweil South County.
The local authorities confirmed on Monday and appealed for humanitarian support.
In an interview with No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, Simon Lual Buuk, Information Director in the Office of the County Commissioner in Aweil South County, said the displaced families fled on foot following violent attacks that left dozens of dead.
Buuk explained that many of the IDPs are currently sheltering in Aluel Boma within Tiar-Aliet Payam, where conditions are dire.
Some are overcrowded in local facilities such as health centers now depleted of essential medicines and churches, where they have stayed for nearly a week without adequate assistance.
“Their living conditions are extremely poor,” he said. “Many go for days without food and lack basic non-food items needed for hygiene and survival.”
Local authorities, alongside the county’s Disaster Risk Management Committee and Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), have conducted field visits to assess the situation and verify the number of displaced people.
“Over 300 IDPs are now gathered in Aluel Boma awaiting registration and humanitarian support,” Buuk stated.
He added that many of the displaced remain uncertain about returning home due to ongoing security fears.
“Some told us they chose to come to Northern Bahr el Ghazal because of its reputation for peace and stability,” he noted.
Authorities have urgently appealed to humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam and UNDP, to provide immediate assistance especially food, shelter, and essential supplies.
“The most urgent needs are food and shelter,” Buuk emphasized. “Most of the displaced are children, elderly people, and lactating mothers. We call on state authorities and partners in Aweil Town to respond quickly.”
While host communities have offered limited support, officials say their capacity is strained due to ongoing economic hardships in the region.
The displacement follows violence in Abiem-Nhom in mid-March, where attacks on civilians left dozens of dead. Although no group has officially claimed responsibility, some analysts attribute the violence to rising intercommunal tensions and the spread of misinformation.
The situation remains fragile, with growing concerns about humanitarian needs and the risk of further displacement if insecurity persists.