12 August 2015 - Following the influx of thousands of new displaced persons into the UNMISS Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Malakal, Upper Nile State, UN and donor officials today assessed humanitarian conditions in the camp.

Led by UNMISS Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) and Humanitarian Coordinator Eugene Owusu, the delegation comprised senior mission and UN agency officials as well as representatives from USAID and the Norwegian embassy.

The Deputy SRSG held meetings with the internally displaced persons (IDP) Peace and Security Council and women at the PoC site as well as representatives of UNMISS and UN agencies operating on the ground.

Noting that humanitarian conditions in the camp had worsened with the influx of an estimated 12,000 new arrivals, mainly from Wau Collo and areas around Malakal, and hunger loomed in the town, women called for lasting peace in the country.

“Our livelihoods have become a challenge to many of us due to mass displacement which took place recently,” said IDP Rachel Mayik.

IDP Peace and Security Council leaders called for increased assistance in coping with the additional displaced, who are mainly women, children and the elderly.

Touring the camp, the delegation viewed ongoing work in extending the site to accommodate the new arrivals, who have pushed the total number of IDPS at the Malakal camp to over 40,000.

One of the new IDPs, a pregnant mother, said food shortages had forced her family to risk their lives and travel to the Malakal PoC.

“I came from (Wau Shilluk) and I am very tired,” said Sarah Juma. “We stayed there for 10 days without food. Nothing to eat and here I am carrying twins.”

An elderly, blind man said conditions on the River Nile’s western bank were desperate. “The situation is bad. There is no food and … I was going to die in my house,” said Nyikang Nyikier. I had to come here and tell you … so you know the reason people are coming here.”

UNMISS State Coordinator Isiaka Adesola Abolurin said the new IDPs would be accommodated at temporary residences in the new extension within the next two or three days.

“Regardless of challenges, UNMISS and its partners are doing what is possible to (address) the situation, though needs are huge in terms of humanitarian access to Upper Nile State generally,” he said.

The new arrivals have received plastic sheets from the Danish Refuge Council and International Organization for Migration, according to the UNMISS Malakal Relief, Reintegration and Protection (RRP) team.

The World Food Programme has provided initial nutritional aid and plans to distribute additional food to new IDPs to cover the next 15 days, the RRP team said.

UN leaders are also working to open up the area to a flow of humanitarian services for vulnerable people, mainly on the Nile’s western bank and villages around Malakal seriously affected by food shortages.