IDPs protest lack of enough clean water at Malakal PoC

Displaced people collect water in a water point at the PoC site. Photo: Albert Gonzalez Farran/MSF

Dozens of internally displaced persons at the UN Protection of Civilians site in Malakal on Monday held peaceful demonstrations outside the UNMISS gate demanding the provision of enough clean drinking water.

Dozens of internally displaced persons at the UN Protection of Civilians site in Malakal on Monday held peaceful demonstrations outside the UNMISS gate demanding the provision of enough clean drinking water.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, an activist at the camp James Peter said the humanitarian situation at the camp has deteriorated since water rationing was introduced in the camp last week.

“One family strives daily to get less than 16 litres of clean water after standing in long queues,” Peter said. 

He added that the water is insufficient to meet the daily drinking and cooking needs of the people.

A displaced woman, who identified herself only as Mary, said women spend a long time standing in queues to get clean water. She explained that due to overcrowding, women end up fighting at the water points.

"The taps are always closed after half an hour. So people don’t get enough to meet their daily needs and that leads to fights at the water points," she noted.

The IDPs appealed to the UN and other humanitarian organizations working within the camp to provide enough clean drinking water by halting the rationing of water.