South Sudanese returnees share harrowing experiences fleeing Sudan conflict

AWEIL – Numerous returnees, totaling in the hundreds, if not thousands, have shared their experiences with Sudans Post, shedding light on their perilous journeys to South Sudan through dense forests.

Abuk Garang Dut, a 30-year-old returnee, expressed disbelief at making it back to South Sudan amidst the ongoing war in Sudan.

She recounted how the fighting erupted at 12:00 AM while some were still asleep in Muglad.

Tragically, some people were killed in their residences, haunting Garang, who struggled to sleep for days. The trauma intensified as her brother’s wife was shot while fleeing, leaving behind small children.

“I cannot sleep now as my brother’s wife was shot in the stomach, causing me a lot of anxiety,” she revealed.

LOSING HOPE OF RETURNING

With most of her belongings left behind, Garang found it challenging to envision returning to Sudan to reclaim her properties.

The immediate concern now is the dire situation in the open, where she and fellow returnees in Rumaker Payam, Aweil East County, live under trees, facing increased impoverishment.

“We are living in the open now under the trees, with children crying and suffering from pneumonia-related infections, looking frail,” she emphasized.

Dut Garang Bol, another returnee chief, explained that they crossed into the county through dense forests and now grapple with the dilemma of seeking jobs in the county or returning to their original homes.

“We contacted the local chiefs here, and we are not sure how they will respond to our plight, as the authorities haven’t taken any action yet,” Dut said.

Among the challenges highlighted by the returnees are the acute shortage of food and shelters.

Adut Garang Bol, a representative of the returnees, outlined their dire situation, emphasizing that conditions are worse than what they faced in Southern Kordofan.

Garang revealed that one of her relatives was killed in the forest by elements allied to the militias of Misseriya, who shot from afar and fled, leaving the deceased to bleed profusely and die in the bush. The top priority now is assistance with food.

“What is significant now is the food, as you can see how we are camping in the open. Most children are sick due to weather conditions and sleeping on empty stomachs. We are glad that you have come, and we hope you can relay this information to agencies and the state government to help us,” implored Adut.

In response, Commissioner Kerbino Thiep Tong, during a visit to Rumaker last week, pledged to share the returnees’ conditions with the state government and allocate land for cultivation.

National Member of Parliament Agany Deng Kawac also promised to bring the conditions to the attention of the national government, recognizing the dire situation faced by the returnees camping at Rumaker.