Ibba County Faces Humanitarian Emergency
More than 500 households fled Maruko village last month after armed men entered the area, reportedly looting property and forcing youths into their ranks, county officials confirm.
The displaced trekked 55 miles through dense forest to Nanguruza, settling on open ground without shelter, food or clean water, creating an urgent humanitarian emergency.
Violence Sparks Mass Flight
Witnesses report that unidentified gunmen arrived at dawn, firing shots and ordering villagers to assemble, prompting families to flee in panic, leaving possessions behind.
County commissioner Paul Juma says local forces are too stretched to secure outlying settlements, noting that Maruko has been attacked three times since July.
Living Conditions in Nanguruza Camp
Ibba health officer Barbara Alison describes children sleeping on bare ground, shivering in cool night temperatures, while malaria and respiratory infections spread unchecked.
Pregnant women queue at a single borehole that often runs dry; makeshift plastic sheets fail to keep out rain, and no mobile clinic has arrived yet.
Local Authorities Sound the Alarm
Alison warns that without immediate food rations, mosquito nets, and medical supplies, ‘lives—especially of women and children—are in serious danger,’ she told reporters.
The county administration has submitted an incident report to state authorities and the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, requesting emergency assistance and strengthened security deployment.
Appeals for Government and NGO Support
Community leaders urge Juba to airlift maize flour, sorghum, blankets and tarpaulins, while international NGOs are asked to restore the health post destroyed in previous clashes.
Humanitarian agencies say funds are limited but are preparing a joint assessment; the World Food Programme spokesperson confirms an exploratory mission is scheduled this week, security permitting.
Regional Implications and Next Steps
Analysts fear prolonged displacement could heighten food insecurity across Western Equatoria, already strained by seasonal floods and disrupted trade routes to neighbouring markets.
State officials reiterate their commitment to restore calm and encourage displaced families to return once conditions allow, pledging collaboration with humanitarian partners to rebuild Maruko.