16 March - Recognizing vita needs of displaced people sheltering at the UNMISS base in Bentiu, Unity State, UN agencies distributed non-food items (NFIs) to hundreds of families today.

The packages, which included plastic sheets, blankets, floor mats, mosquito nets, kitchen utensils, hygiene kits (soap and towels) and buckets, were distributed to 1,489 families by the International Organization for Migration, UN Refugee Agency and UNICEF.

“I find the kitchen utensils most useful”, said internally displaced person (IDP) Teresea Deng Kuong. “If there was also a tea kettle and a big plate to serve meals, we would have everything we need in the kitchen.”

Another IDP, Rebecca Abdarhaman, said, “In South Sudan, we don’t eat meals from small plates at home. We eat together from a big plate called sahan. We also don’t drink tea from tin cups. Even in very difficult conditions, we’ll still try our best to have tea served in glasses.”

Non-food items are distributed less often than food, depending on needs. Prior to distributing them, IOM carried out an assessment and verification of needs at the UNMISS protection of civilians (POC) site.

IOM also registers IDPs coming into POC sites countrywide. As of 12 March, UNMISS Bentiu was harbouring about 6,000 as of 12 March. As of 6 March, a total of 186,350 IDPs had been registered by IOM across the country.

In addition to registration and NFI distribution, IOM’s support for IDPs during the ongoing crisis includes emergency healthcare through a semi-static clinic at the PoC site and a mobile clinic serving IDPs in Bentiu town. The agency also assists with shelter, camp coordination and camp management support.