UNHCR delivers relief to 25,000 displaced people in S. Sudan
August 16, 2015 (MARIDI) – The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has completed distribution of emergency relief items to an estimated 25,000 internally displaced people (IDP) many of whom lost almost everything in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state.
The operation, UNHCR said, targets nearly 5,000 vulnerable families driven from their homes in Maridi town in June when conflict between cattle keepers and farmers triggered ethnic violence, killing 14 people destroying several properties.
According to a recent assessment, over 35,000 South Sudanese people were forced to flee Maridi. In addition, 196 houses were burnt and the town market entirely looted.
Some 25,000 people have reportedly found safety within Maridi county, while another 10,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring Ibba county. The violence has also forced 150 Sudanese refugees to leave their homes in Maridi town and seek safety in Makpandu, a camp 100 km east of the conflict hot spot and already sheltering some 3,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic.
Meanwhile UNHCR said it had joined efforts with state and local authorities, Action Africa Help International and World Vision International to coordinate this response.
“Five temporary distribution centres were established in the two counties to cover nine displacement sites: Mudubai, Muku, Nagbaka, Mboroko and Rastigi in Maridi county as well as Rubu, Manikara, Ibba town and Madebe in Ibba county”, the agency announced.
Distribution has reportedly reached approximately 4,100 families in Maridi county and another 900 in Ibba county. Some of the items given out were sleeping mats, blankets, plastic sheets, mosquito nets, soap bars, buckets, jerry cans and women’s underwear.
“This is just a drop in the ocean compared to the needs of the affected population”, said Ahmed Warsame, UNHCR Representative in South Sudan, adding “I wish we could support everybody and give everybody more, but our resources are limited.”
A total of 1.6 million people have reportedly been internally displaced in South Sudan since December 2013. The country is also a host to more than 265,000 refugees from mainly Sudan’s South Korfodan and Blue Nile. UNHCR is the lead humanitarian agency responding to IDPs needs for protection and works with South Sudanese authorities and partners to protect and assist asylum seekers and refugees.
(ST)