21 October 2014 - UNMISS had built new sites for about 28,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking shelter on the mission’s bases in three state capitals to improve their living conditions, a senior official said in Juba today.

“When we first opened our gates, we expected it to be a temporary solution,” said Derk Segaar, head of the Relief, Reintegration and Protection (RRP) section. “The situation has become prolonged and we are looking for solutions to make it more bearable.”

The new sites in Bor, Jonglei State, Malakal, Upper Nile and the national capital Juba, Central Equatoria, were better planned and had spaces for schools and other amenities, but still faced challenges as they failed to meet minimum standards of refugee or IDP camps, he said.

“We may have to house these people for a longer period of time, but it is not our intention to do so,” Mr. Segaar said. “We are making conditions better, but the sites are still improvised, temporary and not a great place to live.”

He noted that 11,000 IDPs had been moved from the mission’s base in Tomping, Juba, to a new protection site near the mission’s headquarters. The process to move the remaining 3,000 people in Tomping would start tomorrow, he added.

Another site had been completed at the mission’s base in the Jonglei State capital Bor, where only 3,000 people remained. In the Upper Nile State capital Malakal, 14,000 IDPs had moved to a new site the mission was expanding to accommodate the remaining 4,000 people.

“In (the Unity State capital) Bentiu, the situation is dire,” said Mr. Segaar. “The site is continuously flooded. We have worked with partners to provide drainage so that people can live in a more dignified way than they are doing.”

The RRP Chief added that partners were also working on a dry season plan to improve conditions for 50,000 IDPs seeking shelter at the UNMISS base in Bentiu.

“Outside the base, it is dry. Inside, it’s flooded, but people choose to remain here,” he said. “Clearly it’s a security issue.”

Mr. Segaar said the mission would not force out anyone seeking shelter on its bases, but noted that it was vital to encourage people in stable areas to return home or move to other places where they could feel safe. He gave an example of the protection site at the UNMISS base in the Lakes State capital Rumbek, which was closed on 12 October.

Asked about foreign nationals seeking shelter at the mission’s bases, Mr. Segaar stressed that the mission’s role was “to protect civilians, not only protect South Sudanese citizens”.

“I meet with people at the protection sites daily and I don’t know a single person who is keen to stay in these conditions,” he said. “If individuals decide that they feel unsafe for any reason, the mission is committed to providing protection.”