Aweil West: Host community welcomes new camp for Sudanese refugees

Sudanese refugees in Kiir Adem, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, on Monday, June 5, 2023. (Radio Tamazuj)

The Wedwil community in Aweil West County of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal says it welcomes the opening of a new camp for Sudanese refugees.

On 15 April this year, fighting broke out between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), forcing a large number of people to flee to neighbouring countries.

2,700 Sudanese refugees have arrived in Kiir-Adem, Kiir-Pal and Jaac in Aweil North County and Majok Municipality in Aweil East County. Last month, the South Sudanese government allocated land to accommodate the increasing numbers of refugees who are fleeing the escalating conflict in Sudan.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, several residents of Aweil West County said they are ready to host the Sudanese.

Agnes Kwaje, a host community member, said: “Yes, we have accepted them because if your neighbour has problems and comes to you, you must welcome him or her and grant them whatever you have, including food. There is nothing bad at all.”

Another Wedwil resident, Akot Padior, said they are happy to stay together with the Sudanese refugees, citing historical ties between the two countries.

 “We have welcomed them to stay with us freely because we are border communities who usually use to cross to Sudan and vice versa. Many people in Wedwil, Nyamlel, Ariath and other surrounding areas speak Arabic, and they can mingle with Sudanese refugees and cooperate peacefully,” he said.

Meanwhile, the area paramount chief, Dut Majak, said the arrival of the Sudanese refugees brings many benefits to the local community.  According to him, humanitarian and development partners would establish many water stations, hospitals and schools that the host community can also use.

 “The arrival of the Sudanese refugees will provide us with clean drinking water, hospitals, and schools and when peace prevails in their country and they go back, all these things will be ours,” he said.

For his part, Aweil West County Commissioner Marko Majok Piol said that they had deployed a police force to provide security to the refugees. “I have already done the security plan ,and I deployed a police force of two platoons so that no one can attack them. I made this in collaboration with the state government,” he added.