Bentiu protection site a big concern – UNMISS official

3 Jul 2014

Bentiu protection site a big concern – UNMISS official

3 July 2014 - Between 100 and 200 new internally displaced persons (IDPs) are arriving each day at the protection-of-civilians (PoC) site at the UNMISS base in the Unity State capital Bentiu, a senior mission official said in Juba today.

“Currently, we have about 100,000 IDPs seeking protection in ten UNMISS bases around the country,” said Recovery, Reintegration and Peacebuilding (RRP) Chief Derk Segaar. “Our biggest concern is Bentiu where people continue to arrive, many in malnourished conditions.”

Mr. Segaar said although IDPs were arriving mainly on account of food insecurity concerns rather than physical insecurity factors, poor sanitation conditions at the Bentiu site were exacerbating their plight.

He cited an inadequate number of latrines inside the Bentiu protection site as an example. Although humanitarian partners are building new ones daily, there were still 134 people per latrine, compared to minimum hygiene standards of 50 people per latrine.

He added that the availability of clean water has increased from seven to ten litres per person per day. But this is still below the accepted minimum standard of 15 litres per person per day.

“We see a very serious development also (with) mortality rates for children under five years old … (which is) above emergency levels,” the RRP Chief said, adding that six suspected but unconfirmed cases of cholera had been detected which had resulted in the death of a child.

Despite these challenges, the Mission and its humanitarian partners were working to improve existing sites, create new ones and provide assistance to people displaced outside UN bases, he said.

“We’ve made good progress in (the Upper Nile State capital) Malakal, where about two thirds of the IDPs have moved out of the initial protection site to the new site,” said Mr. Segaar.

He revealed that the Tomping and UN House sites in Juba had been closed to new arrivals and the mission was moving about 100 people daily to a new, larger site next to its headquarters.

He attributed the influx of new arrivals to food insecurity as well as contining fears that fighting might erupt despite the Cessation of Hostilities agreement.

Acting Spokesperson Joseph Contreras said UNMISS had come under pressure from time to time to close the sites or require IDPs to depart UNMISS premises against their will..

“We have not and will not force (IDPs seeking protection) to vacate the premises,” he stressed.

Jeffrey Buenger, UNMISS Senior Protection of Civilians Adviser, reiterated that the mission was mandated to protect civilians on its bases, and foster secure environments for their safe and voluntary return to their homes.