HIGHLIGHTS
IOM health teams continue to respond to the malaria epidemic
Mobile response teams reach vulnerable populations in Jonglei’s Canal County
IOM trains IDPs on psychosocial support at the Bentiu PoC site
Since December 2013, the crisis in South Sudan has displaced more than 2.3 million people, including 645,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries and more than 1.66 million others who remain internally displaced. Approximately 206,400 people are sheltering at UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) protection of civilian (PoC) sites across the country.
The malaria epidemic continues to spread, with nearly 1.6 million cases reported this year, according to the UN. To respond the high numbers of malaria cases at IOM clinics, IOM has dispatched additional malaria tests and treatment and recruited more hygiene promoters to encourage early diagnosis and treatment of malaria at the PoC sites in Bentiu, Unity State, and Malakal, Upper Nile State.
IOM mobile response teams recently distributed lifesaving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance to displaced and vulnerable households in remote areas of Canal County, Jonglei State. From 28 October to 18 November, IOM registered and provided assistance to more than 1,300 household in Kurwai payam. IOM also trained ten hygiene promoters ,who will spread messages on the importance of handwashing, the dangers of open defecation and tips on food and water hygiene among their own communities. IOM is currently in Kolapach payam to provide WASH assistance to an additional 3,500 people. For more information, please see http://bit.ly/1OiKnMD.
Along with partner World Vision, an IOM team is currently in Wau Shilluk, Upper Nile, to distribute emergency shelter materials, including ropes and plastic sheeting, to an estimated 2,000 households.
IOM has extended its psychosocial support (PSS) programme to the Bentiu PoC, training 20 IDPs to form mobile PSS teams. The teams will help design and implement PSS activities for communities across the PoC site.