FALCON POWERS – The influx of over half a million people fleeing the conflict in Sudan means that the transit centers in Renk – a border town in neighboring South Sudan – are overcrowded, housing three times their capacity, with over 300 people sharing a single water tap. As a result, Oxfam has warned that the lack of clean water and proper sanitation increases the risk of cholera outbreaks.
Overcrowding in Renk
Currently, more than 15,000 people are living in two centers in Renk, which were designed to host only 4,750 people. Up to 5,000 additional people are living outdoors without access to clean water or proper sanitation.
Even before the recent conflict, there were 1,027 cholera cases in South Sudan. The rains, coupled with inadequate water and sanitation, will lead to an increase in disease cases. Currently, 100 people are sharing a single latrine – more than double the standard minimum.
The country director of Oxfam in South Sudan, Dr. Manyang Manyang, said: “I have just returned from Renk where people are crammed in the shelters in appalling conditions. Many have to queue for hours just to access clean water or use a latrine. Without an immediate injection of funds, the situation will explode into a full-blown disaster, leaving many people at risk of disease and hunger. The coming rainy season in April will cut off the main roads, hampering critical aid and further restricting people’s movement to the shelters.”
