16 January 2012 – There is a threat of malnutrition and possible vector-borne, water borne and respiratory tract disease outbreaks among the displaced population in Pibor county.

The displacement follows intertribal clashes in the last week of December 2011 and first week of January 2012, in which over 60 000 people from Pibor, Lekuangole, Fertait, Bilait, Dorein and many other areas were displaced, with many reported wounded or dead.

In December, over 5000 Lou Nouer youth from northern Jonglei state were reported to have mobilized themselves and headed towards Pibor county, Jonglei state, to carry out a revenge attack against the Murle community.

Many of those who fled the conflict into the bushes following the attack have started returning and are currently living in the open in Pibor, Lekuangole and other areas, while many others remain in the bush.

In Pibor, Lekuengole and other villages, water points and health facilities have been damaged or destroyed. In the internally-displaced persons IDP camps the sanitation conditions are poor, increasing the risk of communicable diseases.

Those still in the bush have no access to safe drinking water and are exposed to mosquitoes bites, leading to increased risk for malaria, acute water diarrhoea, respiratory tract infections and epidemic-prone diseases. 

It’s anticipated that the conflict will continue in the nearby counties of Jonglei state.  

WHO response

Following the attacks, WHO South Sudan country office joined the Ministry of Health and other health cluster partners to support the response towards the affected communities by providing medical supplies and financial support for medical evacuation of 405 patients to Juba.

To support Juba Teaching Hospital in coping with the overwhelming numbers of patients, WHO donated tents, trauma kits, medical drugs and supplies. The Organization also provided logistical and financial support for the feeding of wounded patients, carers and families. Malakal, Boma and Bor hospitals, were also provided with trauma kits and other medical supplies to manage the wounded.

In response to insufficient medical personnel at hospitals, WHO deployed technical officers to assist in the coordination of the health emergency response. To boost morale, WHO also provided incentives for health personnel who were working extra hours and participating in the medical evacuations and the management of wounded patients.

The deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in Jonglei state, compounded by increased population movement, food shortages, malnutrition and difficulty in accessing health services, may contribute to the spread of the ongoing kala azar outbreak to new communities. WHO is putting together a contingency plan to respond to possible kala azar outbreaks in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states.