5 June 2015 - As heavy rains and flooding threaten Protection of Civilians (PoC) areas at UNMISS Bentiu, Unity State, displaced people are being relocated to a larger site with better drainage.

Since the exercise began on 29 May, some 3,841 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from 602 household had received new plots, noted UNMISS Unity Relief, Reintegration and Protection team leader Numa Shams.

“The relocation and plot allocation process is going smoothly except … (for) suspension of the process on Tuesday due to a rush to the allocation centre when rumors spread that plots were running out,” he said.

Mr. Shams was optimistic the 63,000 IDPs sheltering at UNMISS would be successfully relocated to 8,000 new shelters once the process was complete.

As for new PoC arrivals in Bentiu due to recent conflict, Mr. Numa noted that UNMISS and humanitarian agencies would assist with their needs. And communities would shelter them within their structures, as per South Sudanese culture.

IDP Sarah Nyajuoy, who was relocated two days ago with her 18-member family, said crowding in the previous site had made movement difficult and dangerous. The new site had good drainage and safer spaces for children, she said.

Another relocated IDP, Tut Yang, said he and his 26-member family would complete the roofs and walls of their four tukuls (conical huts) in two days. “People are happy to be relocated from the old to the new camp,” he said, adding that each block had multiple roads, easing access to health and hygiene services.

The UN Refugee Agency, International Organization of Migration, Danish Refugee Agency, Concern Worldwide and German Agro Action are assisting with relocation. UNMISS and the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs are coordinating the activity.