Medecin’s san Frontiers (MSF) a medical humanitarian organization operating the region of Jonglei, South Sudan confirmed that 100,000 people still have dangerously inadequate access to emergency medical care. “almost three weeks after the latest mass movement into the bush to escape violence in South Sudan’s southern Jonglei state, the aid response remains far from meeting the needs on the ground” MSF communication officer Philip James Lokudu said.
Lokudu said that massive population displacement, which began in May this year, stems from a combination of cyclical inter-communal clashes in the area and a concurrent violent conflict between the South Sudan Army (SPLA) and the David Yau Yau armed militia group.
He said MSF has reached some of those people hiding in the bush. “Since Sunday 21st July, MSF mobile clinics have performed more than 700 consultations in the bush in southern Pibor, treating mostly respiratory tract infections, malaria, and general health concerns resulting from, hiding in such conditions for so long,” MSF Emergency Coordinator Katrin and that other people are hiding in the bush have started arriving at another MSF clinic in Gumuruk.
He said that Some patients also show signs of mental trauma. And that the Gumuruk clinic is currently the only healthcare structure functioning in Pibor County after MSF’s hospital in Pibor town was targeted and destroyed in May. He said that over the past few days more than 25,000 people have arrived in Gumuruk village, leaving their hiding places in the bush to seek assistance and that aid agencies have been unable to cover their most basic needs.
“MSF is extremely concerned both for the thousands of people still hiding in the bush with such limited access to healthcare, and for those arriving in Gumuruk with almost nothing, MSF urges all parties to respect and facilitate the deployment of humanitarian aid to those in need across Jonglei State” he continued. MSF has been working in Jonglei state since 1993. MSF provides primary and secondary healthcare through its health centres in Pibor, Uror and Nyirol counties, as well as emergency medical care when required in response to outbreaks of violence. In 2012, MSF provided 130,692 outpatient consultations in Jonglei state.
The President of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir has reiterated a concern to realize peace in Jonglei. “We cannot enjoy when peace did not prevail in Jonglei” Kiir said in public address at the celebration of the 8th anniversary of the martyr’s day in Juba.
Kiir said that the Government is carrying investigation on human rights violation in Jonglei. He asked for the investigation of the Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) unit in Jonglei. “If people run away from you, then something must be wrong with” Kiir told the SPLA soldiers. Kiir also called on the Murle elders in Juba to pursue peaceful means to the ongoing crisis with rebel group loyal to David Yau-Yau.
Meanwhile the SPLA chief of staff James Hoth Mai confirmed the SPLA commitment to pursue peaceful solution to the Jonglei ongoing crisis. We are pursuing peace with David Yau-Yau” Hoth said. He denied allegation that SPLA are involved in the ongoing human right abuses in Jonglei.