Internally Displaced Persons in Twic County of Warrap state are calling on the government and well-wishers to support them with food and other essential items.
There are over five thousand IDPs settled in Inyin Deng Ayuel camp. They are among thousands displaced from their homes during fighting between Twic and Abyei youths in February.
The IDPs say they have spent a month in the camp without food and have now resorted to eating wild fruits and tree leaves to survive.
“Our people are really suffering due to lack of food,” said Wol Gum Ayuel, a representative of the IDPs. “It is time for rains and we have not seen any support from NGOs, we are eating tree leaves that children cannot manage to eat.”
Mr. Gum added that five people have so far died from hunger and poor sanitation in the camp. He disclosed that out of the 5,000 IDPs, only 800 have been given food ration cards but have not received “any food, treatment or feeding.”
The most affected, he said, are children and the elderly. “There is death in the camp,” he concluded.
In response, the Coordinator for Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Twic County said food is on the way.
“The NGOs that are supporting IDPs in the area are in the process of supplying food,” Cyier Madut Cyier announced.
The IDPs are supported by MSF in partnership with WFP.
In February, local authorities said about 20,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in Twic County.