Displaced civilians in South Sudan’s remote Nyatim village face denied aid amid rising deaths
In recent weeks, families fleeing intensified fighting in Jonglei state have trekked through swampy terrain to reach the isolated settlement of Nyatim. Eyewitnesses and humanitarian workers told The Associated Press that the village lacks food, clean water, and basic medical care, forcing residents to survive on leaves and roots.
When aid agencies attempted to mobilize emergency assistance, South Sudanese authorities at both local and national levels repeatedly refused access, according to multiple sources.
On‑the‑ground reports of suffering
Thomas Nim, a 43‑year‑old pharmacist who fled Lankien with his pregnant wife, three children and mother, described the scene:
“Some of the most vulnerable, like the elderly and children, ended up in Nyatim because they couldn’t make it any further. As days passed and people began to die without food or good water, I called for help. But no one came.”
MSF’s mission director in South Sudan, Yashovardhan (who uses a single name), confirmed that the organization’s requests for medical supplies and nutrition support were turned down.
“It was a ‘no’ from local and national authorities and the military. People now eat leaves and roots to survive.”
Aid organizations cite repeated blockages
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) told AP that despite “numerous contacts with national and local authorities,” its attempts to deliver food to Nyatim were rejected. WFP country director Adham Effendi noted that the agency has been forced to rely on air drops to reach other accessible areas, such as Chuil, where it has delivered 415 tonnes of food since March.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) first requested assistance for Nyatim on 22 February, followed by another inquiry on 3 March after reports of deaths surfaced. In late March the organization issued a public statement highlighting the worsening situation and the lack of governmental response.
Conflicting narratives from government and opposition
Gatkhor Dual, an opposition official who coordinates aid in Jonglei state, accused county commissioner James Bol Makuei of deliberately blocking humanitarian access to areas perceived as supporting the opposition.
Makuei acknowledged that movement into Nyatim has been restricted but challenged the scale of the crisis, claiming that estimates of 30,000 displaced people—cited by MSF—are exaggerated. He countered that the SPLM‑IO (the main opposition faction) is detaining civilians in Nyatim to attract aid and gain a strategic foothold near government headquarters.
Thomas Nim rejected the claim of opposition presence, stating that he saw no armed fighters in the village during his stay.
Background of aid diversion and insecurity
Concerns about the misuse of humanitarian aid are not new in South Sudan. Armed groups, including elements of the national military, have previously diverted supplies for military purposes. The United Nations reported that in recent Jonglei fighting, fighters looted more than two dozen health facilities operated by humanitarian organizations.
Moreover, the infrastructure in the region remains poor. River routes, when usable, are frequently attacked, and overland travel requires official clearance that is often delayed or denied.
Humanitarian response amid ongoing challenges
Despite access restrictions, aid actors have adapted where possible:
- WFP has conducted regular air drops to Chuil, delivering over 400 tonnes of food since March.
- MSF expanded a modest four‑bed clinic in the area to a 100‑bed facility to cope with rising malnutrition rates; in March, more than half of the 1,000 children screened in Chuil were found to be acutely malnourished.
- Local residents, faced with starvation, have begun returning to their ruined homes, citing the absence of food and shelter as the primary motivator.
These efforts, however, remain hampered by security risks. Residents report that surveillance aircraft often accompany relief flights, raising fears that gatherings could become targets. One elder advised against congregating in large groups, noting that crowds increase the likelihood of being spotted by hostile forces.
Conclusion
The plight of Nyatim’s displaced population illustrates a recurring pattern in South Sudan’s conflict: civilians caught between warring parties are denied life‑saving assistance while official figures are contested and aid is politicized. Independent reporting by AP, corroborated by testimonies from MSF, WFP, and local witnesses, underscores the urgent need for unimpeded humanitarian access and accountable governance to prevent further loss of life.
