The UN Refugee Agency or UNHCR is warning of devastating looming humanitarian crisis amidst impact of COVID19 outbreak in South Sudan.
UNHCR said the ongoing inter-communal clashes, together with preventive measures of coronavirus are creating significant challenges for humanitarian organisations to provide protection and aid to affected populations.
‘Years of violence have severely damaged South Sudan’s health services after last year’s floods and the recent locust swarm, people are struggling”, said Raouf Mazou, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations.
He appealed that ‘together with the threat of COVID19, this is a perfect storm that may lead to potentially terrible consequences for millions of people living in already precarious situations, if the virus rapidly spreads’.
The assistant commissioner said UNHCR and its partners continues to work closely with South Sudanese authorities to ensure forcibly displaced populations are included in the country’s national COVID19 preparedness and response plan.
Mazou said ‘We have constructed five emergency treatment centres to support this effort, with five more set to be built in the coming weeks’.
He explained that COVID19 prevention, awareness and control efforts are being put in place in all camps. Refugees and IDPs have been given extra rations of soap and additional buckets to help maintain hygiene.
The official noted that UNHCR outreach campaigns to spread awareness about COVID19 prevention and treatment are ongoing.