Air view of Akobo town, Akobo County Headquarters - Courtesy

Authorities in Akobo County of Jonglei State in August received about 10,000 returnees from Sudan and Ethiopia.

The Commissioner of Akobo County Chuol Tot Choak says some of the returnees are camping at the county administrative offices due to a lack of shelter.

Chuol also says the returning population is lacking food.

When asked if the government is supporting the returnees with food assistance – the Commissioner says, the government does not have funds to support the returning population.

Chuol added that some of the returnees depend on the indigenous people and relatives for support.

“There are a lot of returnees. There are more than 10,000 and 10,000 you cannot provide food as a county government,” said Chuol.

“In the first place, there were returnees coming from Khartoum and then again, these refugees in Ethiopia, are always coming through the river,” he said.

“The place where they can shelter is not there in the county. They occupy empty places, even our administration, they are staying there.”

“There are some organizations registering them, but up to now, they have not finished registering them.”

“The security situation is good but the food security is the problem. We don’t have food. Where do you think we can get food from? There are no agricultural activities in the county.”

“Do we have a government fund for the county for the development and so and so, or you are from South Sudan? We don’t have those things”.