Highlights
Fighting destroys humanitarian infrastructure across the country
IOM responds to urgent needs at Malakal PoC site following February violence and fire
IOM distributes 1,500 survival kits in Mundri West
Since December 2013, the crisis in South Sudan has displaced more than 2.3 million people, including 644,600 who have fled to neighbouring countries and more than 1.69 million others who remain internally displaced. Approximately 228,000 people are sheltering at UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) protection of civilian (PoC) sites.
IOM teams continue lifesaving humanitarian activities across South Sudan, where more than 6.5 million people are in need of assistance. Acts of violence, looting and destruction by armed actors are hindering efforts in multiple locations. A recently released UN report indicates that deliberate violence against civilians continued unabated in 2015.
Since an attack on the Malakal PoC site on 17 and 18 February left at least 25 people dead, more than 120 injured and destroyed or damaged more than 35 per cent of the site, IOM has worked closely with relief agencies to continue providing IDPs with access to safe drinking water, primary health care, shelter and other lifesaving services. Many challenges lie ahead as IDPs fled the fighting without their belongings, clinics require rebuilding and approximately 30,000 IDPs remain sheltering in old parts of the PoC site not designed to host IDPs. Relief agencies are urgently working to improve living conditions before the onset of the rainy season.
The fire heavily damaged humanitarian infrastructure in the Malakal PoC site, including IOM’s new primary health care clinic in Sector 2 and a health care outpost near Sector 3. As the clinics are completely destroyed, IOM swiftly set up a temporary clinic to continue providing full primary health care services.
During the fighting in Pibor on 24 February, actors destroyed and looted the Humanitarian Hub in Pibor. The Hub provided work space and accommodation for more than 40 aid workers. Over 2,500 IDPs remain in the UNMISS base seeking protection. As the camp coordination and camp management (CCCM) state focal point for Jonglei, IOM is on the ground in Pibor to assess needs and coordinate the response.
IOM joined an interagency rapid needs assessment to Bangolo and Gariya, Mundri West, Western Equatoria, where civilians have been cutoff from humanitarian assistance since insecurity began in May 2015. The team observed extensive destruction of civilian and public infrastructure. IOM distributed 1,500 survival kits to households affected by the most recent violence in the area