3 September 2014 - The Netherlands government is committed to assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Sudan, the country’s Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation said in the Upper Nile State capital Malakal today.

Lilinne Ploumen made the remarks during a one-day visit with UN Humanitarian Coordinator Toby Lanzer to assess the living conditions of more than 17,000 IDPs seeking shelter at the UNMISS base.

The delegation visited a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic at the base, toured both the old and new protection-of-civilians sites and met the IDP Peace and Security Council members.

“It must be difficult to live here and to have your family here,” said Ms. Ploumen. “Although the situation is better now (in the new protection site) than in the other area, I think it still needs some improvement.”

The Minister said her country would continue to assist the UN in improving the living conditions of IDPs in the country.

“The UN is doing everything they can to improve this situation and they are working hard,” she said. “We will continue to assist them with that.”

Mr. Lanzer described the visit as a very important one since Ms. Ploumen is the most senior humanitarian aid and development official in The Netherlands.

“The good people of the Netherlands have been very strong supporters of the people of South Sudan and I am hopeful with this visit today such support will continue,” he added.

According to Derk Segaar, UNMISS Recovery, Reintegration and Peacebuilding Section Chief, the Dutch Government has so far contributed about 50 UN Police Advisors who are helping to maintain public order in protection sites on UNMISS bases.

“In addition, they deployed a water engineer to (the Unity State capital) Bentiu last week to assess the flooding situation in the Bentiu POC site and make recommendations on how to improve the drainage,” said Mr. Segaar.

A statement on The Netherlands Government website last week noted that the Dutch government had donated 10 million Euros towards humanitarian assistance since December 2013.

It pointed out, however, that Ms. Ploumen had decided to suspend financial support to projects in which the South Sudanese government was the main partner, instead raising the budget for emergency aid to the population.

“Ms. Ploumen has frequently expressed her dissatisfaction with the attempts by the government and armed opposition to restore peace,” the statement said ahead of the minister’s visit to South Sudan.

“She will make clear in Juba that there can be no question of resuming aid to the South Sudanese government unless the parties take practical steps towards peace and immediately stop the violence so that the South Sudanese people once more have a prospect of living in dignity,” the statement added.

Meeting the delegation, the IDP Peace and Security Council chairperson, Mathew Chol, reiterated the council’s commitment to fight tribalism within the protection site.

Ms. Ploumen and Mr. Lanzer also met with the acting State Governor Awer Dau and visited the Malakal Teaching Hospital.

Mr. Dau assured them that his government would continue to work tirelessly to improve the security situation in the state.

“We are optimistic that the security situation will return to normal because, with the help of UNMISS, we are working very hard on that,” he said.