25 October 2013 -- The UNMISS office in Western Bahr el Ghazal state today delivered food and clothing items with an estimated value of 25,000 South Sudanese pounds to the Agok Leprosy Centre southeast of the state capital of Wau.

The donation capped a series of activities intended to commemorate United Nations Day, which is observed on 24 October. The donated items included sugar, beans, flour and cooking oil as well as garments and footwear.

Among the contributors were national and international civilian staff members of the Mission, peacekeeping troops from the Kenyan and Mongolian Battalions and members of the Chinese Medical and Engineering military units.

“The little donations we brought are not enough,” said UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer Usman Dogar, who is also serving as the Mission’s acting state coordinator for Western Bahr El-Ghazal. “(But) this donation exercise keeps us in touch with you here in Agok.”

Mr. Dogar promised that UNMISS would do more in the future to help the 362 patients living at the leprosy centre, which was founded in the 1960s.

The director of the facility thanked UNMISS and described the quantities of gifts as unprecedented in the history of the center.

“This isn’t a small donation, rather it is a big donation,” said Mr. Thomas Aleu. “I want to assure you that these donations will be distributed equally to all lepers in our centre.”