Missing women from Bentiu IDP camp found alive at Unity oilfield

BENTIU, NOV. 6, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – Six women who went missing from the protection of civilian (POC) site in Bentiu have been found alive after spending three days lost in the floodwaters. The women were found in the vicinity of the Unity oilfield.

The six women had reportedly left the POC site to gather water lilies, a common source of food in the area due to the suspension of food distribution by the UN World Food Programme (WFP). However, they lost their way and became stranded in the floodwaters.

Mary Nyakim Mut, a 41-year-old mother of eight who was among the missing women, recounted their ordeal to Sudans Post: “We spent three days in the flooded water, suffering from mosquito bites and surviving only on water lilies.”

She expressed concern about the impact of her absence on her children, who had to fend for themselves during her absence.

Maria Nyekuoth Tai, another one of the missing women, echoed Nyakim’s sentiments, stating that they had ventured out to collect water lilies due to the lack of food at home.

“We went to collect water lilies to feed our children because there was no available food at home since WFP suspended food distribution in the POC site,” Mrs. Tai explained.

The suspension of food distribution by WFP has left many families in the POC site dependent on fish and water lilies for sustenance, leading to malnutrition among children and elderly people.

The discovery of the six missing women brings relief to their families and the POC site community. However, it also highlights the precarious situation faced by residents of the POC site, who are grappling with food shortages and the challenges of living in floodwaters.