Victims of conflict in Yambio county receive non-food items

February 27, 2016 (Yambio) – Over 100 households badly affected by the recent conflict in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state county of Yambio have received non-food items provided by South Sudan Red Cross since conflict broke out in the region.

Red Cross’s branch director in Yambio, Alison Martin said the beneficiaries of the nonfood items were the victims of the recent clashes in Ikpiro residential area in Yambio town,where people were killed and houses were set ablaze by the army during fighting.

“You know they were badly affected during the last crisis most of the houses in Ikpiro were burnt, items were all burnt, others were looted and then they lost everything that is why we want to help them,” said Martin.

Alison added that the number of those affected is huge but Red Cross will only target five hundred and fifty households during these distributions while planning to reach most of the affected people in Ipkiro and other areas in the county.

The items, being distributed include blankets, mosquito nets as well as clothing kits.

While speaking to the beneficiaries, John Agume whose houses and properties were all said he was delighted to receive support from South Sudan Red Cross for the first time after experiencing hardship on how to take care of his eight children and the wife.

“I am so happy today to receive a support from Red Cross for the first time after all my houses and properties were burnt during conflict in November last year”, said Agume.

Most communities residing in Ikpiro appreciated the support and majority of them have returned to their homes even if some still lack houses for sleeping as rain approaches.

Ikpiro is one of the areas badly affected as a result of continued confrontations between armed youth groups and members of the country’s military.

(ST).