The Women-Led Organizations (WLO), in collaboration with the Eastern Equatoria State ministry of gender, child and social welfare, on Wednesday delivered food and non-food items to support the vulnerable conflict-displaced persons in Magwi County.
On Wednesday, local authorities in the county reported that the IDPs who earlier fled their villages for Magwi town had started returning home following the return of relative but uneasy calm, a statement local chiefs disputed.
Recently, conflict erupted in Magwi County after cattle rustlers attacked Kraals belonging to herders from Jonglei State resulting in the killing of about 20 people, including women and children.
Ikai David, the chairperson of the Women-Led Organizations Network in Eastern Equatoria, told Radio Tamazuj that the relief items will be given to vulnerable women, children, and the elderly, especially those whose houses and property was burned.
“We as women have brought some items and I want to thank the people who extended their support in helping the suffering population in Magwi,” Ikai said. “We have 6 sacks of maize flour, 5 sacks of rice and ten bales of clothes and small fish as sauce and other small items like onions among others, for the IDPs.”
She added: “We are targeting vulnerable groups like people whose houses were totally burned. They took nothing but only the clothes on their bodies.”
Asunta Gale, one of the displaced women from the Agoro area said the items they feed and dress.
“We have been helped with rice, oil, beans, and also maize flour. This is the only food we have received and before the support, our lives were terrible and there was nothing to eat,” Gale said.
Susan Alonyo, another displaced person, said the quantity of food they received was not enough to feed the entire displaced population and called for more support.
“Our life is good here because there is no killing these days but our problem still remains hunger. The little food given is not enough to feed the children and adults and this food is cooked in one place for IDPs to feed on,” Alonyo said. “Another problem is the issue of blankets, some people were displaced without even bringing anything to cover the children and the rains are now starting.”
For his part, Salva Ben Okeny, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission coordinator in Magwi County, confirmed the receipt of the items and applauded the Women from Torit for standing with the suffering population in Magwi County.
“These people came yesterday (Wednesday) and brought some items from the women from Torit. The team was headed by the state gender minister. The items can help the IPDs, especially those from Abara who came with nothing,” Okeny said.
Jennifer Nabongorika, the state gender minister urged the displaced peoples to return to their homes.
“The work of the government is to encourage the displaced persons to return to their homes when there is registration by UNHCR. They will give them food for a short period for them to resettle,” Minister Nabongorika said.