South Kordofan lacks clean drinking in parts of Heiban County

 

The Unit in a statement Voice of Peace Radio got on Thursday, said currently, the only sources is borehole which will dry up between March and June, posing a threat to communities. 

 

With drinkable water scarce, water-borne illnesses threaten people, who also lack adequate health care, the statement reads. 

 

It added that more non food items are urgently needed to those communities and returnees whose houses were destroyed during the heavy rain and floods last year. 

 

Meanwhile, Thobo County is experiencing a rapid influx of returnees, in areas with no access to humanitarian relief, lack of shelter and scarcity of drinkable water sources. 

 

The situation is particularly concerning, and WASH needs are high in the area. People are now depending on contaminated streams and dug wells. Support is urgently needed to step up humanitarian assistance, the report explains. 

 

In Blue Nile, overall food security improved across the region because of the main harvest in far farms. 

 

White sorghum, in particular, has improved food security in Blue Nile, the Unit disclosed. 

 

Other crops such as beans, ground nuts and sesame (sim sim) were also harvested, it added. 

 

In Wadaka payam, where a food shortage was previously reported because of floods in the earlier months of 2019, food security has improved as well, with 2,700 households receiving food aid, the Unit explained. 

 

Secretariat of Agriculture confirmed poor harvests resulting from floods, pests and diseases that caused significant damage to crops. 

 

It reported that food stocks may not last until April. 

 

As the dry season commences, communities resort to alternative means to generate income. 

 

Meanwhile, gold mining continues in Wadaka and Yabus Payams, fishing by hooks is also ongoing in Komo Ganza and Yabus Payams, while selling of grass, poles and charcoal occurs frequently in Chali and Yabus, South Kordofan and Blue Nile Coordination Unit reported.