Unity State, South Sudan
January 14, 2022 — The forces of Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-(IO) under the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, camped in Mirmir payam of Koch County in Unity State are reportedly starving, lacking basic necessities such as food, clean drinking water and medical supplies, a senior opposition commander revealed.
In a statement obtained by Nyamilepedia, Maj. General George Gatbany Chuol, the SPLA-IO Acting Division Four commander says the SPLA-IO forces at the cantonment site in the Mirmir area of Unity state have run out of food and drug supplies.
He said the soldiers are starving in the area after they ran out of food and medicines.
The senior opposition commander described the condition of his soldiers at the cantonment site as” dire”.
Gen. George appeals to the Joint Defense Board to supply food and drugs as soon as possible.
He also called on parties to the Revitalized peace agreement to implement all the necessary provisions in the peace agreement so that all conditions are bettered in all aspects of life.
A number of SPLA-IO forces have been cantoned in the Mirmir area since 2019 pending screening and training.
According to the latest reports, their situation has gotten worse and Juba has paid deaf ears to their calls for help.
Last year, President Kiir in his address to the nation on independence day pledged to mobilize funds for soldiers languishing at cantonment sites and ordered also his senior advisor on security affairs Tut Gatluak Manime to address such concerns.
Over the last 3 years, tens of soldiers have died in cantonments due to lack of basic necessities such as food and medicines forcing some trainees to vacate the training sites; however, those who abandoned training sites have been recalled several times to return to attend screening.
