SOUTH SUDAN: IDPs Start Getting Humanitarian Aid from Tombura-Yambio Diocese

Ginaba Lino

The internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are now living in a difficult environment due to a violent attack which has affected thousands of people in Tombura, Mabenge, Gbatanzere, and Kpatanayo in Rii-Yubu Payam on June 21, 2021 have started getting aid from the humanitarian team of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio.

On July 6, 2021, humanitarian workers from the Diocese left their offices on mission for Tombura and Rii-Yubu Payam with humanitarian support for the IDPs.

The Acting Administrator for the program in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio Mr. Kia Moses explained that food and non-food items which taken to the vulnerable population who were affected in Tombura and Rii-Yubu Payam are a contribution by well-wishers from different groups in Yambio who felt a needed to lend a helping hand to their brothers and sisters.

Moses says this came in as a result of the bishop of the Diocese initiating the program of local contributions in all the parishes, institutions, and individuals to give hands for the IDPs in the affected area.

Meanwhile Honourable Monoko Leone Rodolf, member of Parliament in the State Legislative Assembly in Western Equatoria tasked by the Catholic Diocese to mobilize for the contributions has urged all citizens, churches, institutions and well-wishes to continue contributing towards the humanitarian assistance through the Curia office, adding that the door still remains open to receive donations.

The contributed items were bags of sugar, bags of maize, rice, groundnuts, clothes, and undisclosed amounts of money, utensils and bathing buckets among others

Jesuit Refugees Service’s Edward Minisare disclosed that the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), a government institution tasked for registration of refugees and displaced persons, has not officially given out the current number of people who had been displaced in those areas at the moment.

According to Minisare, after the deadly attack which occurred on June 21, 2021 in the county, no group has claimed the attack. The attackers matted serious crimes against civilians including defilements, killing, burning houses and destroying properties of the community.

Last month, the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio called on all the parishes, institutions and well-wishes to contribute towards helping the people who were displaced during the violence.

Tombura County is in the western part of Wisteria Equatoria State in South Sudan.