The border region of Abyei has been contested since South Sudan gained independence in 2011. (Courtesy).

Over 10,000 returnees in the area are facing a dire situation due to a lack of humanitarian assistance, an official in Abyei administrative has said.

Abyei Commissioner for Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, Ajak Deng, says the returnees do not have adequate food, shelter, and medicine.

Ajak says the local authorities in the area have no capacity to respond to the needs of returnees.

“The situation is bad because you know the NGOs, were not ready for the emergency but now they are just getting some ratio and some have not received up to now. The issue of sheltering is another challenge,” said Deng.

“We are still working with IOM but up to now there is nothing we know it is a rainy season they are accommodating themselves in their relatives’ homes so there are a lot of issues of humanitarian and protection.”

The returnees mainly women and children were fleeing the conflict in Sudan and are returning to their hometowns.

At least 200,000 people have crossed to South Sudan from Sudan since the conflict started on April 15, according to United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.