Blue Nile refugees in South Sudan living rough

The humanitarian situation for Sudanese refugees in the South Sudanese Yousef Batel camp has deteriorated significantly as a result of torrential rains in the past weeks.

“The entire refugee camp has turned into a mud bath,” activist Noura Awadallah told Radio Dabanga on Friday.

The camp in Maban locality in Upper Nile State accommodates about 37,000 refugees from Sudan's Blue Nile State. Lately, diseases such as malaria, typhoid, and pulmonary infections have spread rapidly among the refugees.

Awadallah pointed to reduction of the monthly food rations by 35 per cent. “Most of children are malnourished, and are therefore prone to diseases. Many of them suffer from vomiting accompanied by blood.”

She also reported that many children have left school, and went to nearly Felouj and El Bounj in search of work, food, and clothing. The kindergartens in the camp have been closed, as the people keep the small children in their shelters because of the many pools.

The activist called via Radio Dabanga on relief organisations in South Sudan “to intervene and try to find urgent solutions as soon as possible”.