UN delays relocation of refugees to Maban due to flooding

The United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Thursday said the planned of relocation of refugees to Maban refugee camp remains on hold due to flooding and impassable roads which require repair

By Benjamin Takpiny

The United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Thursday said  the planned of relocation of refugees to Maban refugee camp remains on hold due to flooding and impassable roads which require repair.

“As a result of the higher-than-expected refugee arrivals, there is congestion in Renk transit center. The road between Maban and Renk requires urgent repair” said OCHA in it’s latest report on the Sudan crisis released in Juba.

It said that Onward Transportation Assistance (OTA) remains the most critical need for thousands of people who have escaped conflict in neighboring Sudan since April 15.

 “Facilitating people’s onward transportation will reduce the need for shelter, water and food in Renk and other key locations; and reduce overcrowding at the various Transit Centres (TCs) with the associated risk of spread of disease,” it said.

OCHA said that as of 27 November, 406,356 people have been recorded crossing into South Sudan from Sudan.

It said that between 18 to 24 November, there were 13,130 arrivals, with 93 per cent coming through four points of entry in Upper Nile State, 4 per cent through Panakuach in Unity State, 2 per cent through Kiir Adem in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State and another 1 per cent through Amiet in Abyei Administrative Area.

It disclosed that 88 percent of those arriving are South Sudanese returnees and 12 per cent Sudanese refugees, adding that this shows a downward trend in arrivals of Sudanese nationals compared to recent weeks.

It added that high-energy biscuits, in-kind food or cash assistance was provided to 374,000 new arrivals to meet their immediate food and nutrition needs on arrival.

“Partners continue to provide two or three-month food assistance to returnees in their final destinations. Since the inception of this part of the response in September, over 125,000 people received this food ration,” said OCHA.

“As a response to the cholera outbreak in Sudan, hygiene and sanitation supplies for up to 3,000 households were dispatched to Renk as part of cholera preparedness activities. The supplies included household water-carrying items with disinfectant and water-purifying products,” it noted.

OCHA said   there was fighting between armed men and armed forces in southern Abyei on 19 November, resulting in 47 fatalities and approximately 34 injured.

“Some 75 locals from the affected villages fled to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) temporary operating base (TOB) fearing further attacks, subsequently departing after three days. This fighting has impacted movements of refugees and returnees from Sudan who had planned to move to Abyei from Renk and Malakal and are now reconsidering their options,” it said.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *