By Emmanuel Mandella

There is some breath of fresh air at Nadiagere Payam in Yambio camp after South Sudan Red Cross distributed emergency relief items to the more than 600 persons sheltering at the camp.

The displaced, who trekked barefoot for months fleeing violent clashes earlier this year, received the items just in term amid cut throat challenges including disease outbreaks, inadequate clean water, shelter and quality medical services.

“We are grateful for the food and supplies, but the reality here remains harsh. We are suffering from diarrhea, malaria, typhoid, and frequent coughing due to poor sanitation and unclean water,” said Apai Michael, a community representative among the IDPs.

The SSRC relief package, supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), included sorghum, beans, cooking oil, mosquito nets, mats, makeshifts, and laundry soaps intended to address immediate survival needs. But officials say more must be done to restore human dignity for the displaced.

Mr. Singira Robert, the SSRC branch manager in Yambio, acknowledged the critical conditions, saying the intervention followed urgent needs flagged due to an earlier assessment.

“The people here lack safe drinking water, proper shelter, medical care, and toilets. They fetch water from the Yabongo River and relieve themselves in nearby bushes,” Singira told journalists during the distribution on Friday.

The humanitarian plight in Yambio echoes a similar distribution carried out last month in Riimenze Boma, where over 100 IDPs who fled violence in Nangume, Basipangua, and Zambasende were assisted by CODEP, a catholic local humanitarian partner.

The continuing waves of displacement in Western Equatoria State have pushed humanitarian actors to raise their voices, asking for an immediate solution to avert further crises.

“This is not just a story about giving aid. It’s a call to action to address root causes of conflict and establish long-term solutions,” said a humanitarian worker familiar with the situation in Western Equatoria.