UN Backs IOM Aid to IDPs Displaced by Conflict in South Sudan

GENEVA, Switzerland, January 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated USD 8 million to IOM to support the organization’s response to the growing displacement crisis in South Sudan.

UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos emphasized the urgent need for the funds. “Conditions for the South Sudanese fleeing hostilities in their country are getting worse by the day. With this CERF funding, humanitarian agencies will be better able to meet the needs of people desperately seeking shelter and safety,” she noted.

An estimated 490,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been displaced in South sudan since the outbreak of armed conflict on 15 December. Of these, 67,800 are taking refuge on UN peacekeeping mission bases throughout the country.

Camp management and camp coordination (CCCM) mechanisms have been established at two sites in Juba, benefitting over 32,000 people. Efforts to establish similar structures in other sites are ongoing. The funding from CERF comes at a crucial time to support CCCM partners as they work to address challenges at the IDP sites, including congestion and lack of humanitarian space to effectively plan and manage response efforts.

IOM has been at the forefront of efforts to assist people displaced by the South sudan crisis. As co-lead of the CCCM cluster, IOM is supporting the overall coordination of humanitarian services at sites for displaced people.

Specific activities undertaken by the CCCM cluster include the development of a strategy to provide services in camp-like settings, the provision of technical support on camp management, IDP registration, site planning and site setup.

IOM has also launched the Camp Management Rapid Response Grant Mechanism, a fund that enables CCCM partners to immediately assume camp management roles in priority IDP sites across the country. This mechanism will ensure that partners have the resources needed to effectively assume roles as camp managers.

The funding from CERF is the largest ever allocated for CCCM activities in the fund’s history, and will directly support the humanitarian response to some of South Sudan’s most urgent needs.

To date, IOM has registered over 50,000 IDPs across South Sudan. The data gathered during the registration process is being shared with humanitarian partners to contribute to the rapid and efficient delivery of aid. IOM is also working with partners to provide essential household items and emergency shelter materials, as well as water, hygiene and sanitation assistance to people affected by the conflict.