South Sudan: UN agencies distributing aid to thousands displaced by conflict in Jonglei

Some 55,000 people in South Sudan have received essential items from the United Nations and its partners, after having been displaced by conflict in the country’s Jonglei state, the world body said today.

According to the spokesperson for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Jens Laerke, the UN and other humanitarian agencies have been distributing a mix of food, water and households items such as jerry cans, soap, fishing equipment and blankets, as well as providing sanitation and hygiene support.

However, he warned that aid distribution was being made difficult by the extremely poor road conditions and insecurity.

The displacement of some 75,000 people and increased humanitarian need was triggered by a military offensive by government forces (SPLA) against a non-tate armed group earlier this year. Insecurity was compounded in July by inter-communal violence between the Lou Nuer and Murle communities.

To scale up the humanitarian response, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which is managed by OCHA, allocated $6 million last month to help agencies bring relief to affected communities in Pibor county in Jonglei. The latest funds are in addition to the $5.5 million CERF allocated in June.