Displaced Persons in Bentiu Camp South Sudan Reject Return Calls Describing Them as Unrealistic
Bentiu – Juba Global News Network
Displaced persons in Bentiu camp in Unity State have rejected calls to return to their villages made by South Sudan’s Vice President for Infrastructure Taban Deng Gai during his recent tour of the region considering that the calls disregarded the fragile security situation and lack of basic services
Displaced representatives confirmed that the persistent insecurity deteriorating living conditions and the arrest of opposition leader Riek Machar make any return at present an incalculable risk They also pointed out that their home villages still suffer from destroyed infrastructure and lack of healthcare and education making return an impractical option
In this context local leaders expressed the displaced willingness to return once security conditions improve and services are restored but stressed that the camp despite its difficult conditions provides a minimum level of stability thanks to humanitarian aid
Displaced persons fears have recently escalated after Médecins Sans Frontières decided to transfer its medical services from the camp to the state hospital threatening to weaken healthcare for around 110000 displaced people including large numbers of women and children amid the spread of diseases such as hepatitis
It is worth noting that Bentiu camp was established in 2014 following the outbreak of civil war and is one of the largest displacement centers in the country where its inhabitants rely almost entirely on international aid amid ongoing political and economic crises in South Sudan
