Hon. Nathaniel Oyet, the First Deputy Speaker of the parliament. (Photo: Kafuki Jada/Eye Radio).

The first deputy speaker of the national legislature is calling for humanitarian assistance to over 15,000 returnees in Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State.

Honorable Nathaniel Oyet, who recently visited the area, says the returnees from neighboring Uganda and Kenya arrived in the past three months.

In January alone, authorities in Magwi County said about 7,000 refugees returned home after the security situation improved in the area.

However, the First Deputy Speaker of R-TNLA says despite the relative peace in the area that encourages the people to return home, service delivery is needed for the population.

“So far, we have over 15 thousand refugees who returned and the areas of return include Parjok Payam and Awere Payam,” Oyet said.

“These are the areas that were affected by the conflict, where locals have crossed the border into the neighboring countries, now they have begun to return home and they are facing these challenges of shortage in services delivery and humanitarian support.”

The returnees are reportedly integrated among their families and communities without enough food, and other basic needs.

In 2021, President Kiir appealed to the Madi Community who fled the conflict to refugee camps to return home. He had assured them of his commitment to protect them.

But the residents of Magwi blame the government for failing to rebuild infrastructures like schools and health centers that were destroyed at the height of the war.