The Unity State government over the weekend distributed relief items to 578 households displaced by floods in the Bieruok residential area of Bentiu and Pakur in Rubkona County.
The minister of information and communication, Makuei Bol, said the state government had made a quick intervention to deliver food and non-food items to rescue the most vulnerable people before humanitarian agencies respond to the dire situation of the flood-displaced.
“The state government is giving some small aid to them like food and non-food items and even some charcoal for cooking, some plastic sheets and more. We have given flour, oil, soap, sorghum, and lentils,” Makuei said. "We are now with the humanitarian agencies touring around the displaced community in Bentiu and after they finish the assessment, they will immediately make interventions when they return."
The executive director of the human rights commission in Unity state, Stephen Bol, confirmed that the flood-displaced community in Bentiu and Pakur received both the food and non-food items donated by the State government.
"The governor of Unity State has directed all the government vehicles and commercial vehicles to collect and take the flood-displaced community to the IDP camps that they have been allocated and the government has provided food and non-food items,” Bol said.
He added: “The only challenge foreseen is the outbreak of some diseases because the IDPs do not have latrines, clean drinking water, medical facilities, and other basic needs. The humanitarian agencies have not yet responded and now it is the state government trying hard to directly provide food items while waiting for humanitarian agencies to respond."
Bigoah Kuong Mayen, a resident of the Bieruok suburb in Bentiu town and leader of the displaced community, said the number of the flood-displaced is 4500 persons and 578 households are 578 and acknowledged that they received relief items from the state government.
“The state government donated food items to the displaced community residing in Bieruok and Pakur including 100 bags of lentils, 20 bags of salt, and 278 plastic sheets, 150 bags of sugar, 200 jerrycans of oil, and 200 bundles of mosquito nets,” Kuong said.
Nyasuday William Thou, a mother of 2 toddlers, said that they have received the government food and non-food items but that it was insufficient.
"We have no latrine facilities, medicines, and there is fear of an outbreak of diseases due to the large number of displaced persons in Bentiu. But we urge the humanitarian agencies and national government to give us more assistance,” Thou said.