Xinhua- Essential services for nearly 187,000 displaced people in South Sudan could collapse within weeks due to a six million U.S. dollar funding shortfall, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned.
In a statement issued on Thursday, IOM Chief of Mission in South Sudan Vijaya Souri said life-saving services, including clean water, sanitation and flood protection, in Bentiu and Malakal are at immediate risk of disruption, leaving already vulnerable communities without the minimum conditions for survival.
“Without these services, taps will run dry, latrines will overflow and sections of Bentiu camp could flood during the coming rains. The risk to people’s health and safety would be immediate,” Souri said.
According to the IOM, the lack of essential services could trigger rapid disease outbreaks and renewed displacement, with devastating consequences not only for the 187,000 people living in the congested sites, but also for over 554,000 residents of Malakal, Bentiu and Rubkona towns who would feel the downstream impacts of service disruptions.
“To prevent a further deterioration of conditions, IOM is urgently appealing for six million U.S. dollars to sustain critical services through the end of 2026 and safeguard communities during ongoing camp transitions,” said the UN migration agency.
It added that the current dry season is a critical window to maintain flood protection infrastructure ahead of the rains.
The IOM listed South Sudan as one of the world’s most displacement-affected countries, with nearly two million people displaced internally and about 10 million in need of humanitarian assistance.