With thousands of people arriving from conflict-affected Sudan, Boro Medina is facing a severe lack of food and essential services. Overcrowding also means an increased need for protection of civilians. Photos: Roseline Nzelle Nkwelle/UNMISS
WESTERN BAHR EL GHAZAL - Boro Medina, located about 70 kilometers from the Sudan border, is struggling to accommodate thousands of refugees, primarily women and children, who have settled in the area despite a lack of basic services and official designation the site as a refugee camp.
The significant influx or new arrivals means that the population has surged to more than 13,000, with many of them being South Sudanese people returning home, fleeing the armed conflict in Sudan.
“We are running short of everything, including food and clean water. The situation is complex, and things may get worse as many more people are using the more passable dry season roads to travel here,” cautioned Joseph Romano Abderhaman, administrator of the area.
The Boro Medina health care center is under similar strain, with many refugees arriving in poor health after long journeys.
“The health center is exhausted in every way,” declared the State Minister of Health, Francis Michael Hassen. “I want to assure the population that we prioritize remote areas like Boro Medina in terms of services. I will do my best to make medical supplies available as soon as possible,” he said.
Some refugees have been in Boro Medina for more than a year, with many of them feeling that the world has turned its eyes away from the plight of caused by the armed conflict in Sudan.
“There seem to be different categories of refugees in the world,” said Abakar Musa Abakar, leader of the refugees. “Some people can have a meal only when businessmen are being generous. Our children are scattered because they are not going to school,” he went on.
According to Tito Aviik, Deputy Commissioner on Refugee Affairs, the government of South Sudan is ready to transport refugees who want to move to the designated camp for refugees in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, where services are provided, or immigration documents for those who can sustain themselves in Boro Medina.
In the meantime, local authorities are doing what they can to support the newcomers by providing land both to settle and to farm.
“We greatly appreciate the hard work of the administrators,” remarked Basham Musa Ayaga, Chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission.
Silwa Mudir Ramadan, who arrived a few months ago, is also grateful.
“I’m happy to be back home in my country,” she declared. “I have started a small business and can afford to take care of my children. The only problem is that they cannot go to school because they speak only Arabic”.
Challenges remain, however, particularly for women and girls and other vulnerable population groups.
“Boro Medina is strategically located and is therefore attracting people from different countries and cultures and with differing interests, leading to an increased risk of sexual and other forms of gender-based violence and early and forced marriages. This situation means that there is a need for protection of civilians, which is why we are cooperating closely with local authorities,” says Sam Muhumure, Head of the UN peacekeeping mission’s Field Office in Western Bahr El Ghazal.
“UNMISS (the United Nations Mission in South Sudan) will continue to deploy personnel to this area, and also help strategic ministries and protection of civilian partners to come here to assess the situation.”