Displaced need urgent assistance in Bahr el-Ghazal

A Catholic bishop said on Friday that up to a million displaced people were suffering from hunger, thirst and disease in the northern Bahr el-Ghazal region in southern Sudan. After visiting the region, Caesar Mazzolari, Bishop of Rumbek, said that he had seen about 55,000 people in very poor condition around Malwalkon. According to the Bishop, the displaced are the result of military confrontation between the government-aligned Arab Murahiliin militia and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).

The conflict in early February northwest of Malwalkon resulted in homes, food and property being burned as well as theft of livestock, said a report released by the Diocese of Rumbek. Civilians caught up in the battles fled to safer areas, but were without food, water, shelter and medical supplies. Mazzolari called for the swift implementation of an internationally-funded feeding programme in the region as well the urgent supply of tents, blankets and medicine. He estimated that at least twelve boreholes would need to be sunk in the affected area to supply fresh water to those in need.

WFP information officer, Lindsey Davies, told IRIN on Wednesday that the agency had planned to feed 113,000 displaced people in the Aweil East district in February. "Unfortunately due to security considerations we were only able to feed 55,000 people," she said. "Lack of pledges from donors has meant that there is a break in the food pipeline and much more food is urgently needed," she added. Davies stressed that WFP could feed many more people now the security situation was better, but only if food was made available. She pointed out that resources were currently so limited that only 25 percent rations were being distributed.