IOM constructs tented camps for displaced populations in South Sudan

February 9, 2016 (JUBA) – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), an international organization operating in South Sudan, has come up with a new idea to construct light base camps with tents in order to effectively provide humanitarian assistance to populations being displaced in South Sudan’s conflict zones.

In order to increase the humanitarian presence in deep-field locations in South Sudan, IOM said it would construct such camps in the mostly affected states such as in Unity, Upper Nile, Lakes and Jonglei in partnership with the International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP), a voluntary network of seven European emergency management agencies.

“Accessing households in hard-to-reach areas is critical. As the crisis persists, families across the country are exhausting their coping mechanisms, experiencing multiple displacements and facing severe food insecurity. The light base camps are helping the humanitarian community to expand its reach to these communities,” said IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission, David Derthick, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.

The statement said despite the signing of a peace agreement in August 2015, insecurity and humanitarian needs continue to drive displacement in South Sudan, where an estimated 1.69 million people are internally displaced. The majority of these are living in remote areas beyond displacement camps as both government and opposition forces displace them.

The light base camps allow relief workers to remain in areas of need for longer periods of time and support consistent humanitarian access. The tented camps provide accommodation and office space, as well as solar-powered electricity and sanitation facilities. IHP engineers and IOM technicians deploy and set up each camp, which is individually managed by a host organization.

Last month, IHP and IOM completed a light base camp in Melut, Upper Nile, to host nearly 40 humanitarian staff working in the nearby UN protection of civilians (PoC) site and other remote areas of Melut.

IHP and IOM teams are preparing to construct camps in other areas, including Unity’s Leer and Koch counties and in Upper Nile’s Wau Shilluk, where IOM recently registered more than 20,400 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host community members.

For instance, the report cited that due to restricted access to Wau Shilluk during much of 2015, thousands of families fled to the nearby PoC site in Malakal in search of food and other relief assistance in July and August. Since access to Wau Shilluk opened in October, many IDPs have returned.

“As such, the light base camp will enable sustained and effective relief operations that reach the communities where they live,” it said.

To further extend humanitarian aid in areas far from UN PoC sites, IOM also deploys frontline response teams. IOM technical staff travel to displaced and host communities to provide lifesaving health assistance and shelter and households supplies, as well as improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions.

Recent rapid respond operations provided WASH assistance in Lakes and Jonglei and helped communities in Wau Shilluk to rebuild shelters. IOM is also continuing its humanitarian operations for IDPs seeking protection in UN PoC sites.

“While the population is stable in most sites, the Bentiu PoC in Unity state continues to receive new arrivals, with over 1,700 IDPs arriving last week alone,” it further observed.

(ST)