The International Organization for Migration (IOM) continues to provide crucial humanitarian services in internally displaced people (IDP) Camp and Sites in Bentiu with a focus on the most vulnerable population including women, children, and persons with disabilities affected by the ongoing conflict and climate-related disasters.
Since early 2024, IOM has been the only humanitarian actor who still delivers essential water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services for the entire displaced population in the IDP Camp and Sites in Bentiu. The essential provision of WASH services includes every month, the provision of 64 million liters of safe water, maintenance of around 3,000 existing sanitation facilities, treatment, and safe disposal of around 2 million liters of fecal matter, and collection of around 1,300 tons of solid waste. In addition, IOM distributes soap and reusable sanitary pads for the most vulnerable persons in the Bentiu IDP Camp.
With a population of around 140,000 individuals, Bentiu IDP Camp and Sites is the third biggest camp that hosts large numbers of returnees from Sudan, conflict and flood-affected areas after Juba and Wau.
“IOM is committed to providing durable solutions to displacement in Bentiu and elsewhere in South Sudan through its program design which aims at providing access to clean water while empowering communities to collaboratively manage their resources,” said Adkins Aaron Michael, IOM’s South Sudan Emergency Coordinator. We will continue to monitor developments in Bentiu and its surrounding areas to ensure the immediate needs of the most vulnerable communities are met, ensuring that no one is left behind.” He adds.
As part of its sustainability model, IOM developed a Resilience, Livelihoods, and Equity Strategy to deliver WASH services in displaced settings in South Sudan. Its main objective is to foster self-reliance and generate livelihood opportunities for displaced populations and host communities in Bentiu. This is achieved through empowering and effectively capacitating local authorities, local communities, and local businesses to operate and maintain existing WASH infrastructure. The strategy is currently in its pilot phase in Bentiu and will be fully scaled up in 2025.
Linked to the strategy and its commitment to providing solutions to displacement, IOM has secured investment in developing water supply infrastructure in Bentiu and Rubkona towns. The water supply activities will be operationalized in 2025 and onwards. IOM will continue to monitor developments in Bentiu and its surrounding areas to ensure the immediate needs of the most vulnerable communities are met, ensuring that no one is left behind.
IOM WASH interventions in Bentiu are funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA), the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the European Union Humanitarian Aid.