Thousands of South Sudanese refugees are living in deplorable conditions in the Central African Republic, the medical charity, Medicines Sans Frontiers, has said.

There are approximately 4,000 refugees who fled violence in the former Western Equatoria State beginning in December 2015 and are now living in Bambouti, a village of 1,000 inhabitants in southeastern CAR.

They have never had access to healthcare and clean water.

MSF says most of these refugees live in tiny make-shift dwellings that don’t offer any protection.

In a statement, the Country Coordinator for MSF in CAR, Maria Simon said they have provided some lifesaving assistance to the people.

“The logistical challenges for our emergency team have been enormous,” says Maria Simon, MSF general coordinator in CAR.

“With help from the local population, we managed to rehabilitate the local landing strip, which had not been operational for several years, to make sure our team and medical supplies arrive safely.”

They also carried out a five-day vaccination campaign for children and pregnant women against epidemic diseases in the area.

In all, some 450 children between six weeks and five years received pneumococcal and a combination of five vaccines in one.

Another roughly 600 children between six months and 10 years were vaccinated against measles, and pregnant women received tetanus vaccinations.

Ms. Maria Simon said there is a security challenge in accessing the area because there are armed group in the remote village where the refugees are camping.