UN increases humanitarian aid to LRA affected people in South Sudan
February 15, 2009, (JUBA) – The UN humanitarian regional coordinator said efforts are going on the bring assistance to Sudanese displaced and Congolese refugees in Central and Western Equatoria states.
As result of attacks by the Ugandan rebels (Lord’s Resistance Army) in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo some 7000 refugees have recently arrived in Lasu, west of Yei to join the 10000 who already arrived in Central and west Equatoria.
Also some 28929 Sudanese IDPs have been affected by the LRA attacks in the region.
To face this deteriorating humanitarian situation the WPF distributed during January and February 181mt of emergency food to 11685 refugees and IDPs in the two states. Since October 2008, some 16182 people received food and the total of the distributed aid reached 301mt.
A further 160 mt has been dispatched for distribution to 15,274 refugees and IDPs during this coming week.
The UN Deputy Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Southern Sudan, Ms. Lise Grande says that the UN is doing its utmost to provide the much-needed food relief and non-food items to assist the affected population.
From January to February this year, essential Non Food Items (NFIs) and Emergency Shelter materials were dispatched and distributed by UNICEF (ECHO-donated) Oxfam, IOM, Danish Refugee Council, ICRC and UNHCR to serve 4,046 households (20,230 individuals) in Central and Western Equatoria.
(ST)