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Northern Bahr el Ghazal – Al-Wadi Newspaper
Refugees at the Widuiel camp in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State have voiced concerns over the deteriorating health and security conditions, despite ongoing humanitarian assistance from international organizations. The camp continues to witness a steady influx of people fleeing the conflict in Sudan.
These concerns emerged during an inspection visit by the Norwegian Ambassador to South Sudan, Roar Høgsdal, who toured the camp to assess the refugees’ situation and review reintegration efforts for returnees into local communities.
Mohamed Adam, a resident of the camp, told The Dawn, an English-language newspaper: “Despite the support provided by humanitarian organizations, we are still facing a severe shortage of essential medicines, especially for children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.”
Adam added that the camp is receiving approximately 300 new refugees each week, significantly straining basic services and contributing to rising malnutrition rates, particularly among children and mothers.
On the security front, several refugees expressed growing anxiety over worsening safety conditions within the camp. They reported frequent night-time thefts and said local security forces have been unable to curb the incidents. The refugees called on the Northern Bahr el Ghazal government to intervene urgently to ensure their safety and protect their belongings.
For his part, Peter Kuot Magak, Minister of Peacebuilding in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, praised the support from the Norwegian government and its partners. “We appreciate the efforts made in the areas of education, healthcare, and water services, as well as the assistance given to returnees to help them reintegrate into their communities,” he said.
Ambassador Høgsdal emphasized the importance of coordination between the state government and humanitarian agencies. “The support provided is aimed at enabling returnees to reintegrate successfully, and what we’ve seen today reflects strong and ongoing cooperation between the government and humanitarian partners,” he stated.
The visit highlights the ongoing challenges faced by both refugees and returnees in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, as the government and its partners continue to seek sustainable solutions to promote stability and strengthen the capacity of host communities to respond to the crisis.
