UN: aid materials looted in Abyei
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May, 26 2011 (KHARTOUM) - The UN Country Team in Sudan on Thursday
said it is concerned that the premises of humanitarian organisations,
both NGOs and UN aid agencies in Abyei town, have been ransacked and
stocks of emergency relief items have been looted.
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A photograph taken 24 May shows the World Food Programme compound in
Abyei being looted by unidentified men and sacks of food lining the
road for collection and transportation away. (Photo UNMIS/Stuart
Price)
The looting of the relief items in Abyei took place following an
attack by the north’s Sudan Armed Forces which took control of the
town on 21, May 2011.
The military take over of the town prompted tens of thousands of
civilians from the Abyei area to flee to areas where humanitarian
organizations are scaling up their response.
In a UN Country in Sudan statement extended to Sudan Tribune on
Thursday it explains items looted include medical supplies, surgical
equipment, 800 metric tons of food (enough to feed 50,000 people for
three months), non-food items, water and hygiene equipment. These
supplies had been dispatched to Abyei town in recent weeks to respond
to the urgent needs of the town’s residents and the rural population
of surrounding villages.
Tens of thousands of people who fled Abyei have travelled South and
are in need of urgent assistance. In Turalei, 130 km from Abyei town,
15,000 displaced people are living in the open. An additional 4,000
people have sought safety in near-by Mayen Abun village. Unknown
numbers are believed to have fled into the bush between Agok and
Turalei., reads part of the statement
The release quoted Humanitarian Coordinator Mr. Charpentier as
commending work of the humanitarian agencies saying they are working
around the clock to provide assistance.
"Food and emergency items are being distributed in Mayen Abun and
Turalei. Medical and nutritional screening is underway in 11 health
posts and seven nutrition centres. Broken water points are being
repaired, emergency bladders are being set up and latrines are being
constructed. Specialists in child support have also been deployed to
help children separated from their families."
"Conditions are difficult in these remote areas but NGO partners are
present on the ground and UN agencies had already pre-positioned
emergency supplies. However there are concerns that fuel is short and
that near-by airstrips may become unusable due to heavy rains".
"The United Nations Country Team deplores the looting of emergency
relief stocks and calls on all parties to respect the property of UN
aid agencies and NGOs, while allowing free and unhindered movement of
humanitarian workers and relief items to vulnerable communities that
have been displaced from their homes during the recent upsurge in
conflict in Abyei and the surrounding region".
(ST)
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