IDPs in WES get the attention of International Community

Juba, Government of South Sudan GOSS  – Joint inter agencies meeting in Juba this morning have agreed in principle to aid the IDPs in WES with urgent humanitarian assistance. The meeting was held at the premises of SSRRC Juba office.
The rapid response has come as a result of the appeal for humanitarian support which was made by the state governor of WES in a press release earlier this week.

Nearly 33,000 IDPs have been reported by the WES SRRC office in the region.

Mundri County – 10, 44
Mvolo County – 6,000
Maridi County – 7,000
Ibba County – estimated 3,000
Yambio County – 2,000
Nzara County – estimated 2,000
Ezo County – 2,000

The taskforce team released a statement that, “one week food ration will be driven to areas badly affected,” the statement added that, “as the rapid response going to materialize, joint assessment team from the task force component will soon fly in to the region for master plan to help the IDPs who are queuing for humanitarian aid on every hour of the day.”

International community in the end result will supply food items and non-food items (NFIs) to the suffering IDPs.

Mr. Samuel Ador Thon, of the GOSS SSRRC says that, “two trucks full of maize corns and Dura will soon be dispatched to the region, with a total of 400 bags.”


The UNICEF representative in the meeting said that, “they have sent advance team to the ground with basic supplies.”

H.E Jemma Nunu Kumba who was present in the inter agencies’ meeting hailed the meeting as positive development, “I thank the international community for the unwavering support they pledged for the plight of IDPs in WES.”

Nunu went further to explain that, “security conditions on the trunk roads in WES since the incident, which the LRA bandits burned the Wildlife ar has continued to be good, she dismissed reports of insecure roads in WES due to LRA brutal attacks.”

“Every situation has different needs, and some people are in desperate need of water and other some basic necessities, and some are backed up against a trauma, so we can't treat everyone the same at all". Jemma appealed.

The vigorous campaign which was launched earlier this week appear to be gaining humanitarian momentum, as many people in Sudan and beyond are pledging their support with the people of WES.

Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Simon Kun the GOSS SSRRC chairperson advised that, “WFP and other agencies involved in rendering humanitarian assistance to WES “should mandate one international NGO with collaboration of local SSRRC offices to speed up the distribution of the badly needed humanitarian assistance to IDPS.”

With more attention directed towards the newly displaced, the IDPs from earlier tribal conflicts in Mvolo County are hoping to get similar attention and aid. UNHCR and the international community in general never distinguished between old and new IDPs during emergencies.

Unlike refugees, IDPs do not cross an international border, this have forced the international community to give IDPs increasing attention. They don't get any attention; they are hidden away, and often much neglected.

The internally displaced face much more uncertain treatment. Unlike refugees, IDPs may be trapped in violent conflict and remain invisible to the international community for months or years as populations disperse, flee and continually move to avoid conflict or direct harassment from LRA.

Some displaced people have moved a few miles from their homes; others traveled great distances; some are staying with family or friends in other areas. Uprooted from their livelihoods, community support systems and any kind of representation, their plight is severe.

Source: Pineapple News