HIGHLIGHTS
UNHCR sounds warnings over situation in South Sudan’s Yei – An estimated 100,000 people are trapped in Yei town, as military operations are underway in surrounding areas, raising concern for civilians’ safety.
More than 30,000 people were displaced into Yei from neighboring villages, following deadly attacks on civilians and looting of private property on 11 and 13 September, church leaders in town told a high-level mission led by UNHCR on 27 September. Tens of thousands of local residents are also trapped and do not have the means to leave. Most internally displaced people are sheltering in abandoned houses, with smaller numbers in church compounds and are facing a serious shortage of food, medicine and household items. Food prices are skyrocketing, with basic supplies quickly disappearing from the markets. Many internally displaced people reported that their food stocks have been looted. Two local hospitals are functioning at reduced capacity. Back in Juba, UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations met on 30 September to discuss delivery of humanitarian assistance, including food, non-food items and drugs. Meanwhile, UNHCR donated 200 litres of fuel to Yei civil hospital to help the medical personnel carry out the most critical surgical operations. The delegation also met with the representatives of the refugee communities from Lasu settlement. They told the mission that armed groups have repeatedly entered the settlement and fired shots, assaulted refugees, looted and destroyed humanitarian assets, goods and property. A young Congolese refugee was killed, leaving two children orphaned. Some 8,000 refugees abandoned the settlement and dispersed in different directions. Nearly 7,400 people have reportedly found refuge on farmland at Kukuyi, some 6 kilometers north of Lasu, and along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). A few hundred have crossed into DRC and settled near the border at Aba. In a meeting with Governor of Yei River State, David Lokonga Moses, UNHCR urged the government to protect the lives of civilians populations, including refugees, and call upon all armed parties to respect the civilian and humanitarian nature of asylum and refugee settlements.Refugees receive scholarship for higher education - UNHCR selected 10 refugees to be awarded higher education scholarships under Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative Fund, also known as DAFI programme. The candidates will begin their university courses at the St.
Mary’s University in Juba on 17 October.Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDs launches in South Sudan refugee camp - UNHCR and partners began provision of health care services for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT) in Maban’s Kaya camp, including counseling and testing of pregnant women and provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Work is underway to expand the services to other camps and health facilities, including Bunj and Gentile hospitals.
