Bahr al-Ghazal IDPs “in bad shape”

The situation affecting people displaced by intensive fighting in Western Bahr al-Ghazal was now reaching crisis levels as many of the 30,000 who had fled their homes “have been found to be in quite bad shape already, especially those who haven’t made it to some of the major centres,” UNOCHA reported on Thursday. David Courrie, an official of the OCHA office in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, said that rains expected any time now would render many roads impassable and complicate efforts to deliver aid.

From a forward base in Ed Daein, food, water, essential drugs and
vaccines, shelter materials and other supplies were beginning to reach those affected, and temporary facilities were being put in place to care for them out of the war-affected areas, a UN press release quoted Courrie as saying. A new Emergency Response Team established to coordinate interventions to mitigate the looming humanitarian crisis in Bahr al-Ghazal and Southern Darfur would meet regularly until the crisis was contained, he said. According to Courrie, the emergency team would complement local relief efforts in the area. A detailed assessment of the situation was under way, and mechanisms were being established to respond to the crisis, including addressing the special needs of children under five years and those separated from their parents, he added.