Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) – International charity organisation Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has said tens of thousands of South Sudanese are living in “catastrophic” conditions and are in need of medical and humanitarian assistance.
MSF said in a statement made available that the South Sudanese have arrived in Awerial, in Lakes state, after fleeing violence in Bor.
It said thousands more were arriving each day, and that living conditions were verging on the ”catastrophic”
The organisation said there was an urgent need for increased medical and humanitarian assistance.
Following intense fighting last week between governmental and rebel troops in Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, more than 70,000 people, mostly women and children, fled the city to gather around the town of Awerial on the far side of the river Nile, some 50km from Bor.
MSF said its emergency team is supporting the two Ministry of Health clinics that are still running by providing consultations and supplies of medicines.
It listed other main priorities as providing clean drinking water to prevent cases of diarrhea, vaccinating children against measles and providing obstetric care for pregnant women.
MSF said another major concern is the provision of food, which needs to be scaled up urgently.
Since 1983, MSF has been working in the region that now constitutes the Republic of South Sudan.
Photo: Médecins Sans Frontières
