South Sudan: UN official meets displaced people sheltering at protection sites in Malakal

14 April 2015 – The United Nations Deputy Special Representative for South Sudan visited Malakal today, meeting with local officials and community leaders of some 26,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) who are being sheltered by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS^[1]).

Recent fighting between youths from the Dinka and Shilluk communities triggered an influx of more than 4,000 new IDPs into the UN protection sites in Malakal two weeks ago.

Moustapha Soumaré, Deputy Special Representative for South Sudan, toured the Mission’s two protection sites, as well as an extension site currently under construction to relieve overcrowding at the existing facilities for displaced people, a UN spokesperson said today at a Headquarters press briefing.

During his visit, Mr. Soumaré said he was impressed by the progress made in the building of a new extension that will host these recently arrived civilians, as well as other people who have been under UN protection for many months.

The UN’s Mission in South Sudan is currently sheltering more than 117,000 displaced people throughout the world’s youngest nation, which is the highest number since December 2013, when this current crisis started.

References

1. ^{^} UNMISS (www.bing.com)