UNHCR distributes food and non-food items to IDPs in S. Sudan’s Yambio
March 3, 2016 (YAMBIO) – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has started distribution of food and non-food items to thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the South Sudan’s western town of Yambio in former Western Equatoria state.
The relief items include blankets, plastic sheets, flours, washing soaps, cooking oils, etc. It targets over eight hundred households with over three thousands IDPs who fled their homes due to last year and recent fighting between local armed youth in the area and the South Sudanese army (SPLA) in Ikpiro area in Yambio county.
Speaking to the press during the distribution of the relief assistance, coordinator for the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Yambio county, Francis Francisko, commended the UNHCR and World Vision for having provided the humanitarian assistance.
“Today, we together with the partners NGOs and UN Agencies are distributing some food items and non-food items to the affected people of Ikpiro residential area,” Francisko told journalists on Friday.
He said those who were receiving the assistance in the area were eight hundred and twenty five households and over three thousand individuals mostly women and children.
Francisko further explained that the assistance will be distributed for 15 days to the displaced persons from Ikpiro and then they will move to other affected areas also to assess the affected people so that they can get assistance as well.
Veronica Mamu, who lost her husband during the conflict and had three of her children also wounded, said it has been hard life for her to take care of the wounded kids alone since her husband died. She came to the center where the non-food and food items were being distributed so that she could also benefit from the relief assistance.
“I am here to where they are distributing food items so that they can give me to help me with my children who [are] injured during the violence in Yambio and I also lost my husband during the fighting,” she told Sudan Tribune.
Baraka Ananeah Baime said he is one of the victims who lost all his properties during the conflict last year but added his house was not burnt only that unknown people broke into the house and stole everything.
He said he thanked God because he is still alive and equally commended the UNHCR and World Vision for providing them with the basic needs. He however called on the government of South Sudan to exercise its responsibility of taking care of its citizens and restoring peace and stability in the country.
A suspected armed group clashed with the SPLA in Ikpiro which forced thousands to flee their homes for safety and their properties were looted during the fighting which started in December 2015.
The fighting in Ikpiro resulted to at least 11 people confirmed dead and many more were injured. Houses were burnt in the area and properties were destroyed.
(ST)