By Baraka John
A possible cholera outbreak is feared among the internally displaced populations (IDPs) in Tombura County, Western Equatoria State, as civil society organizations raise alarm over worsening sanitation conditions in overcrowded displacement camps.
According to George Masi Benjamin, the secretary for civil society in Tombura County, the dire situation stems from the overuse of limited sanitation facilities.
“In most of these camps, hundreds of people are forced to share a single pit latrine. Many of these facilities are now full, and no new ones have been constructed,” Benjamin told local reporters.
Benjamin said the lack of access to functioning latrines has pushed many IDPs to dig shallow holes in the ground to relieve themselves—a practice that poses significant public health risks, especially during the ongoing rainy season.
“There is no intervention from any humanitarian partners, and people are going through a lot, especially when it comes to the previous pit latrines, which were designed for the IDPs and are all full. I don’t know how they are going to survive within this rainy season. I am very sure there will be an outbreak of cholera because there is no proper hygiene in Tombura”. George stated
Lucy Edward Tombura, the county relief and rehabilitation coordinator, told Kind Media on Monday that there are currently 11 IDP camps spread across Tombura County, established to shelter thousands who fled their homes due to violence and instability. Over time, these camps have become increasingly congested, with families continuing to arrive from neighboring areas. However, humanitarian support has not kept pace with the rising needs, especially in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure.
Said the pit latrines dag 2021 in those camps are out of use due to the huge number of the IDPs.
“The last conflict in 2021, the humanitarians came and did the WASH in the camps, but now the pit latrines are already full. As I am talking now, the rain that started yesterday, all the latrines are just moving, just pouring into the camps”. Lucy described
Cholera, an acute diarrheal illness caused by ingesting contaminated food or water, spreads rapidly in environments with poor sanitation. Past outbreaks in South Sudan have shown how quickly the disease can ravage vulnerable communities, particularly among displaced populations with limited access to clean water and proper hygiene.
Health officials in the area have not yet confirmed any laboratory cases of cholera, but symptoms such as severe diarrhea and dehydration have been reported by local clinics serving the camps.