Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) residing within the confines of the Bentiu IDP camp in Unity State have expressed their frustration and taken to the streets in protest of the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) decision to suspend food aid without providing them with adequate prior notice.
The community has united in their resolve to demonstrate against the World Food Programme’s abrupt suspension of food aid to camp residents for a staggering four months. This sudden suspension has left the camp residents in a state of unease and mounting tension.
Chap Wuon Biet, the chairperson of the high committee at the Bentiu IDP camp, conveyed the deep-seated anger and frustration of the residents in a statement to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday.
He emphasized their primary grievance, stating, “The reason why residents at the camp went for a peaceful demonstration and ended up acting aggressively is because WFP did not give notification ahead of time before suspending food distribution. If there is no food for the next four months, there will be malnutrition and starvation, including the deaths of people.”
Wuon’s stark warning underscores the gravity of the situation, as the cessation of food aid distribution in the Bentiu camp places the lives of approximately 120,000 individuals at severe risk, with no alternative sources of nourishment available.
Humanitarian officials in Unity State have attributed the suspension of food aid distribution to a shortfall in WFP’s funding, explaining that the food previously provided to the displaced people was intended to last for seven months.
In response to these dire circumstances, Wuon declared, “We are already facing hunger. We have organized a huge community demonstration to compel the humanitarian agencies to provide us with assistance.”
Nyanhial Bangoag, a female representative in the demonstration, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the urgent need for food aid to resume. “As women representatives, we are ready to demonstrate against WFP’s decision,” she asserted. “There has been no food since the beginning of June, and that is the reason why we are demonstrating.”
She further appealed to the international community, saying, “I am appealing to the international community to give funding to WFP again. When WFP starts receiving funds, then we can be supported by WFP as before.”
Tensions and anger have been escalating within the camp since Monday when WFP announced the suspension of food aid.
James Diu, another camp resident, described the prevailing unease, saying, “The big problem right now is that there is hunger, and there is no movement outside to the former Protection of Civilians (PoC) site because it has been flooded for the last two years.”
The 120,000 individuals in the Bentiu IDP camp have been relying on water lily, fishing, and other livestock for sustenance, as none of them have been able to farm their lands for the past two years.
The suspension of food distribution, impacting approximately 120,000 inhabitants of the Bentiu IDP camp, has resulted in a sharp increase in food prices in the area. Diu reported that the price of 1kg of sorghum has surged from SSP 2,500 to SSP 7,500 since the suspension of food assistance last week.
Meanwhile, Yam Ruot, the coordinator of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) at the camp, confirmed the massive turnout of Bentiu IDP camp residents during the demonstration. He stated, “Our chairperson in the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission is engaging with partners to support residents in the Bentiu IDPs camp.”