By Press Unit

Governor of Upper Nile State, James Odhok Oyay is appealing to the Central Government, International Humanitarian Organizations and people of good will to urgently intervene in addressing the refugees and returnees crisis in Upper Nile State.

The governor who is on his way to South Sudan— Sudan border to assess the level of the influx of the refugees stopped among other places at Paloch airport where over 2000 thousand people are stranded waiting for flight to the national capital, Juba.
The stranded returnees and refugees are of different nationalities including Somalians, Ethiopians, South Sudanese, Kenyans among others.

The humanitarian situation at Paloch airport is dire, with over 2000 people spending sleepless nights, with no food and medicine nor clean water.
The governor, seeing the situation himself, described it as “very terrible” and directed the commissioner of Melut county to settle this gigantic crowd in any public institutions available in order for assistance to find them in an organized manner.
“Very terrible” indeed seeing the kids, the sick and the elderly perspiring in the scourging heat of the sun, possibly empty-stomached.

At Paloch Airport, meeting the sighting of a landing aeroplane with stampede and intense jostling has become everyday experience, with report of literal fistfighting as the people press for space around an eoroplane, mostly not knowing where the aeroplane is going.

The state government this week formed a committee headed by deputy governor, Hon Ayong Awer Lual tasked with mobilizing resources as well as liaising with humanitarian organizations to respond to the developing refugees crisis.

The governor is in Renk county on his way to the border with Sudan where humanitarian situation among the refugees is expected to be much worse.

Views exclusive rights: Press Unit, Governor James Odhok, Upper Nile State, South Sudan, April 27, 2023.