By Hou Akot Hou
At least 25 returnee households sheltering at Machar-Apuoth in Wun-lang Payam, Aweil East County, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, have been left without shelters.
This followed a heavy windstorm that destroyed the roofs of their makeshift homes.
The incident has exposed women, children, and the elderly to harsh weather conditions, raising fears of illness as the rainy season approaches.
The returnees’ chairperson in the camp, Juma Bol Aguer, said the storm struck on Thursday around 3:00 PM, leaving more than 25 shelters damaged and their occupants stranded in the open.
“The heavy storm began around 3:00 PM on Thursday, and now we are still in the open. The biggest challenge is the children and the elderly,” Bol said.
He warned that the lack of shelter poses serious health risks, especially with expected rainfall and cold winds.
“We are appealing for urgent support because shelter is essential for survival. Without it, people can easily fall sick,” he added.
Bol also raised concern over delays in humanitarian response and noted that food shortages are further worsening the situation in the camp.
In response, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission’s coordinator, Akot Mawich, acknowledged the challenges facing the returnees, including the destruction of shelters.
He said authorities are coordinating with humanitarian partners to assess the situation and provide emergency assistance.
“We are aware of the situation and will engage partners to conduct an urgent assessment and respond accordingly,” he said.
In a separate development, more than 40 returnee households stranded at the Majok-Yith-Thiou border town near Sudan are also appealing for assistance.
The group, which arrived recently and is living under trees, said they lack the transport money to continue to their home areas in different parts of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Aweil East, and Warrap.
Their representative, Ajang Deng Bol, said humanitarian support has been delayed despite earlier commitments from aid organisations.
“We intend to travel to our destinations, but we have no money for transport. We are appealing for urgent help,” he said.
He further revealed that one child died last week due to the harsh living conditions, with the body buried in the open due to a lack of shelter.
“The situation is very serious. We even lost a child here last week,” he added.
The increasing number of returnees entering South Sudan from conflict-affected areas of Sudan continues to stretch already limited humanitarian resources, posing challenges for authorities and aid agencies tasked with resettlement and emergency response.