United Nations agencies have kicked off distributing humanitarian support to thousands of displaced people in Yei.
According to the latest figures, 51,000 displaced people in dire humanitarian condition are receiving assistance which includes food and non-food items.
Last Friday, 38 UN trucks carrying 900 metric tons of humanitarian supplies, mostly food, arrived in Yei.
“This is a landmark mission that we have had,” George Fominyen, Communication Officer and spokesperson of World Food Programme (WFP) told TCT at the distribution centre in Youth Gardens on Saturday morning. “WFP was able to lead a joint United Nations convey that brought in food and non-food items.”
Food items distributed included sorghum, spilt yellow peas and cooking oil. Non-food items are yet to be given to people who are in most need.
After receiving the food items, beneficiaries thanked Tthe UN for responding to the need of the people who have been surviving on water due to lack of food.
“People will be happy because of the food,” said Joy Asha Wisely, as her colleagues smiled upon receiving food. “I thank WFP for bringing the food. People are suffering. If you get cassava, you cook and sleep – if you don’t get, you sleep just like that with hunger.”
Asha was displaced from home along Kaya road. She stopped cultivation in her garden at Kaya road following rising insecurity, which forced her to start performing casual work within the town.
“The food has been distributed at the right time,” said Moses Ladu, another resident, who together with his group members received the assistance. A group of thirty people gets nine sacks of sorghum, 45Kgs of spilt yellow peas and cooking oil.
George said WFP will provide humanitarian assistance to people who have not been able to get help for several months, due to insecurity along highways.
He thanked all the parties in conflict in the area for allowing aid agencies reach the needy populations with assistance, urging them give more access for those displaced in the remote areas of Yei.
“We would need that we get into these places because this is not the end...There are a lot of people who need assistance to reach them,” he said.
Bishop Erkolano Lodu Tombe of Yei Catholic Diocese said the intervention of the UN agencies “is giving citizens hope” of recovering from the trauma of food scarcity.
Yei River State Acting Governor Stephen Lado Onesimo commended the UN for the assistance, and promised aid agencies free access to provide aid to displaced people in the state.