Humanitarian organization Mercy Corps has drilled four boreholes in camps hosting returnees and internally displaced persons following acute water shortage caused by congestion.
Malith Gai Wuor, a water technician in the water, sanitation and health service department of Mercy Corps, said the water shortage is caused by congestion due to daily arrivals across the border with war-torn Sudan.
He told Juba Echo on Monday that Bentiu internally displaced camp was also facing water shortage due to the high number of returnees.
“The four water points we drilled will really reduce water shortages and there will be no complaints of water shortages in the locations we are managing,” Wuor said.
He disclosed they drilled one borehole supplemented by big tanks in Rotriah returnees’ camp, two boreholes in Bentiu internally displaced persons camp and another in Thoan floods internally displaced persons camp.
Gile Wakow, Mercy Corps construction officer in Bentiu field office, said they are providing solutions to water shortages to returnees and IDPs.
“Our idea of drilling more water points is to have enough water for both returnees and internally displaced persons,” Wakow said.
Returnees and IDPs have lacked water since June as more people escaping conflict in Sudan continue to arrive daily in Unity state.
South Sudan now hosts more than 190,000 returnees, including refugees who fled fighting in Sudan across the 12 border crossing points, according to the United Nations.
The fighting, which erupted in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on April 15 and soon spread to different parts of the country, is being fought between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Both sides have accused each other of initiating the conflict.
