A delegation from the government of Unity State led by the state Minister of Information Peter Makuoth is in Lakes State to assess the conditions of displaced people from neighboring Panyijar County in Unity State.

The displaced are stationed in two payams of Yirol and Rumbek Centre, according to Makuoth. He said they had fled from hunger and insecurity in Panyijar County.

Speaking from Rumbek, Peter Makuoth told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that they have toured to the two payams where the IDPs were relocated in Yirol on Tuesday and tomorrow they will go to Amuokpiny where thousands of IDPS are residing from Panyijar County

He described their visit as “administrative work.”

Makuoth appreciated local communities in Lakes for welcoming the displaced from Unity State by giving them some food. But he called on the government and UN agencies to increase humanitarian assistance to the Nuer IDPs in the state. 

Previously the website Gurtong reported that the Lakes State and Unity State governments agreed to set up temporary offices for Unity state government to operate in Lakes. The same official was quoted as saying that officials there would “coordinate payment of salaries and provision of services for the people of Panyijar.”

Panyijar County is under control of the SPLA-IO rebel group. The officials dispatched to visit the displaced in Lakes State are Nuers but they belong to the government, not to SPLA-IO.

Related:

Cattle trade between Unity and Lake states resumes (26 Dec. 2014)

Communities on Lakes-Unity border urged to co-exist peacefully (6 Nov. 2014)