28 January 2014 - People displaced by violent conflict in the Upper Nile State capital Malakal said today they had lost faith and wished to leave the area or country, the UN humanitarian chief said during a visit to the town today.

“People (are) very fearful, not wanting to come out and saying to us that they want to be relocated to another country,” said Under-Secretary-General Valerie Amos. “There is a desperate need here for reconciliation efforts, for people to be guaranteed of their safety and security.”

Ms. Amos said she was struck by the absolute devastation in the town. She visited the teaching hospital where she said internally displaced persons (IDPs) were living “in unbelievably dire circumstances”, as well as the UNMISS bases, where an estimated 27,000 people are taking shelter.

“There is a potential health hazard in these informal camps that have now sprung up,” said Ms. Amos. “(There are) way too many people, not enough water, not enough food.”

World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director Chris Nikoi said all WFP warehouses in Malakal had been looted during the conflict between pro-and anti-government forces, which began in Juba on 15 December 2013 and rapidly spread to other states.

“The food which would have met the needs of 80,000 people for one month has been lost,” Mr. Nikoi said. “We are now airlifting food from (the capital) Juba to Malakal.”

Representatives of health agencies said their ability to assist those needing assistance may deteriorate, as they were running out of drugs.

Ms. Amos praised the role played by humanitarian agencies in supporting IDPs, urging them to double their efforts in serving vulnerable people.

Asked what needed to be done to get people back into their homes, the humanitarian chief said it was necessary to guarantee their security, but noted this might not be enough.

“I said we need to work on reconciliation, we need all the communities to come together, the leadership to come together,” she said. “We need to make sure that people’s safety and security are guaranteed,” she said.

“Even then, people (are) … not convinced. They have been through a great deal," she said.