South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The government on Saturday, initiated an airdrop of 600 metric tons of food supplies for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the war-affected Nasir and Ulang Counties of Upper Nile State.
This relief operation is being conducted by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in collaboration with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission.
The food aid donated by President Salva Kiir Mayardit aims to assist 1,000 vulnerable households in hard-to-reach areas affected by recent violence.
This decision follows the restoration of calm in Nasir and Ulang by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) after clashes between government troops and the White Army, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and the displacement of thousands.
Speaking during the flag-off of a plane carrying assorted food items at Juba International Airport on Saturday, Albino Akol Atak, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, said that this initiative is part of the government’s efforts to provide life-saving assistance to displaced civilians.
“We are announcing the launch of a coordinated humanitarian intervention that will involve air-dropping about 600 metric tons of food assistance to the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities severely affected by the recent violence in Nasir,” Akol said.
Akol added, “This assistance is a generous donation from His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic, to the affected people in that area.”
He emphasized that the launch of the food aid signifies the government’s commitment to supporting all individuals affected throughout the country.
“Today (Saturday), we are starting with the most vulnerable people as a result of the recent incident. However, we will also extend assistance to other areas within Greater Upper Nile, Greater Bahr el Ghazal, and Equatoria in the future.”
For his part, Stephen Kueth, chairperson of the RRC, urged displaced persons to return to their home areas.
“We encourage you to come home to Nasir and Ulang. This food is for you. You must return, collect your food, and take it wherever you want to go,” Kueth said.
