No shelter against rain for refugees in South Sudan camp

The majority of Sudanese refugees in a camp in Upper Nile, South Sudan, have no means to use as shelter from the heavy rains.

About 35,000 refugees from Sudan's Blue Nile state face critical environmental and humanitarian conditions because of the torrential rains these days, a coordinator at camp Yusuf Batil, named Somit, told Radio Dabanga.

“Out of the 46,000 refugees in the camp, 35,000 people live in the open without cover. The environmental conditions for the refugees are very poor because of the shortage of tents, plastic sheets, blankets, and mosquito nets.”

The rainy season lasts from approximately May to November. The muddy roads pose a problem for the food and relief transport of humanitarian organisations, sometimes cutting off roads completely.  

In addition, Somit reported a food shortage in Yousif Bateel. “The shortage is significant now humanitarian organisations have reduced the food rations by 70 percent, because of the difficulties in the transport of food to Upper Nile's camps.

“There also is a shortage of trained health personnel to treat the refugees, and a lack of books in the camp schools.” According to the UNHCR, more than 40,000 people have taken refuge in Yusuf Batil.

Somit said he fears that the situation may turn worse, with the risk of health disasters among camp residents.