120,000 South Sudanese cut off from aid: MSF

June 17, 2013 (JUBA) – At least 120,000 people have fled fighting in and around the main towns in South Sudan’s Jonglei state county of Pibor and are currently in unsafe and malaria-infested swamps with no access to safe drinking water, food, or medical care, an agency said.

The international medical charity, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in a statement, said South Sudan government must allow immediate humanitarian assistance to these areas to prevent the deaths of thousands of internally displaced persons.

Majority of those displaced, according to the MSF, fled for their lives into bushes amid intensified fighting between the South Sudan Army (SPLA) and the David YauYau armed militia group over the past month.

“Immediate action is required to avoid catastrophe”, said MSF director of operations, Bart Janssens.

“The area in Pibor county where the population is hiding will flood during the imminent rainy season. This will not be a place where people can remain alive”, he added.

The agency, also expressed fears of a possible increase in mortality rates, due to the absence of medical care in the region, citing pneumonia and other respiratory diseases, malaria and diarrhea.

Unknown people, last month, looted MSF hospital in Pibor town, gravely impacting on the organisation’s ability to provide medical aid to thousands of people displaced in the region.

Those displaced, it said, have fled the main towns most likely out of fear of being confused with rebels groups or being caught in the crossfire.

“The real or perceived lack of distinction between civilians of the Murle community and combatants will only increase the risk of disease and death for a population living with violence, displacement and fear”, MSF said.

Nearly the entire Murle community from Pibor county has been cut off from any assistance, it added.

The medical charity, however, expressed dismay over alleged denial, by the army, for its staff to travel and deliver assistance to people hiding in bushes.

“MSF teams stand ready to resume and scale-up medical activities for all people in need regardless of the community they belong to but South Sudan authorities must allow the unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the displaced,” said Janssens.

All parties to the conflict should respect medical facilities, staff and patients, the agency further stressed, adding that urgency of this cannot be overstated.

Violence, according to the United Nations, is likely to displace more than 200,000 South Sudanese this year.

(ST)