Resumption of violence in Abyei can hinder humanitarian aid – UN
May 27, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – United Nations warned the Sudanese parties in Abyei resumption of fighting in the region would hinder its ongoing humanitarian efforts in the disputed area.
A UN mission led by the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) for Sudan, Ashraf Qazi visited the devastated town of Abyei,
The acting Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan,Ted Chaiban, urged the Sudan Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army to continue exercising restraint, in order to allow the humanitarian aid to reach the displaced population of Abyei before the rainy season.
“We have a window of opportunity now before the onset of the rains. However, any hint of insecurity could quickly erode all our efforts,” said Ted Chaiban, who accompanied the SRSG on a trip to Agok, Abyei and Muglad.
Tens of thousands of people fled Abyei for the safety of Agok and surrounding areas following the outbreak of violence on 14 May. Distraught people told the UN team how they had escaped in fear, many having only recently returned to Abyei in the hope of resuming normal lives after years of conflict.
Preliminary figures from the headcount completed in Agok, Wauchin, Joljok, Manding Jok indicate a total of 22,533 people displaced in these four areas while results are awaited from Malual Aleu and three other areas, the UNMIS relief official said.
Aid agencies are working with a planning figure of 50,000 displaced as a result of the hostilities. The UN team visited Abyei and witnessed first hand the devastated town before visiting Muglad, north of Abyei, where a further 4,300 people also fled.
UN agencies and NGOs distributed some 67,18MT of food to 8,100 households in Agok, Abatok and Madieng with 7,860 people also receiving food rations in Turalei.
This culminates in a total of 82,3MT delivered so far. Water and sanitation teams have also been drilling boreholes and installing water pumps at several sites while health and nutrition clinics are continually monitoring the population, the UN said.
A total of 94 children have been reported missing by their parents in Agok, while 17 children have now been registered as unaccompanied or separated from their families – 11 of these children have been reunited with their families as UN agencies and partners establish family tracing programmes.
(ST)