UNITED NATIONS – Aid workers are working hard to improve living conditions of tens of thousands of displaced people seeking protection at UN bases in South Sudan, a UN spokesman said on Saturday.
Stephane Dujarric said at a regular briefing at the UN headquarters that over 100 latrines were built in the past week at the UN base in Bentiu where over 40,000 people are taking shelter.
“Water and sanitation agencies plan to build over 500 more in the coming week’’, Dujarric said.
Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Dujarric noted that the deteriorating food security situation was of particular concern as well as the mortality rate of children under five.
He added that about 150 community outreach workers were recruited and trained to inform families at the camp about malnutrition, sanitation, hygiene and general health issues.
Tensions within South Sudan developed into open conflict on Dec. 15, 2013 when President Salva Kiir’s government said soldiers loyal to former Deputy President Riek Machar, dismissed in July, launched an attempted coup.
The full-fledged conflict in the country has claimed thousands of lives, left nearly 5 million in need of humanitarian assistance and led to atrocities being committed by both sides.
According to the UN secretary-general’s special representative in South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, nearly 100,000 civilians are now protected by the UN Mission in South Sudan nationwide, with the largest number of displaced people in the Bentiu base. (Xinhua/NAN)
