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Child rights organisation Plan International is ramping up its relief food distribution in Jonglei state, South Sudan to meet the food requirements of 50,000 people over the next three months.
Plan’s scaled-up response comes as the UN doubled the number of people in urgent need of aid in the strife-torn state from 60,000 to 120,000.
The organisation has secured additional relief supplies from the World Food Programme (WFP) enabling it to significantly increase its initial target of reaching 14,000 people. According to the agreement, WFP is providing food supplies and transporting them to Pibor, whereas Plan is carrying out food distribution.
“Our efforts are focused on meeting food needs of children and communities. Nearly 1600 metric tons of food rations will be distributed by Plan to reach 50,000 affected people,” said Fikru Abebe, Plan Country Director for South Sudan.
The latest round of retaliatory fighting between Lou Nuer and Murle communities - two of Jonglei’s largest ethnic groups, has made the humanitarian situation worse.
According to UN, in 2011, more than 1,100 people lost their lives, and some 63,000 people were displaced by inter-communal violence in the state.
“The capacities of the aid agencies were already stretched before the fresh clashes. Children are particularly vulnerable in the escalating situation and their needs must be met as a priority,” said Fikru Abebe, Country Director of Plan in South Sudan.
Plan has an on-going programme in Pibor and Akobo where it is responding to emergency food needs of 4500 children through school feeding programme. This includes children affected by inter-communal violence. The programme is currently suspended as the schools are closed for summer holidays and will resume when the classes restart in February.
Plan’s aid response in South Sudan will also address issues like emotional support for people and child protection in emergencies. The organisation has also deployed specialist capacities to support its relief operation.
In Pibor alone more than 32,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Insecurity issues and accessibility of many areas only by air is making transportation of food relief from Juba a very big challenge and an expensive operation for aid agencies.
“We are committed to continue expanding our relief to reach affected children as long as security prevails in Pibor and if UN agencies continue to fulfil their commitment to transport food from Juba to Pibor and Akobo,” said Mr Abebe. “We support the development of a long-term strategy to guarantee safety of children and the affected community.”
Plan is appealing for US$ 3 million to support its relief work in South Sudan, including US$ 880,000 for relief food distribution in Pibor.
More information about Plan’s work in South Sudan can be found here.
Editor’s Notes:
Fikru Abebe, Plan Country Director for South Sudan, is available for media interviews.
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