Lausanne, July 15, 2016
One week ago, on July 8, conflict erupted in the capital city of South Sudan, Juba, causing the displacement of about 36 000 people at the height of the fighting, thousands of which have taken refuge in churches and UN Protection of Civilian sites.
As part of a joint initiative, Medair has started assessing needs in order to be able to bring life-saving help to the displaced and affected people in Juba. Currently, Medair is processing the registration of non-food item beneficiaries in St Theresa’s church and distributing those items (bed mats, mosquito nets and blankets), alongside the International Organization for Migration, to about 2000 displaced people who have taken refuge in UNMISS’ Tongping Protection of Civilians site.
Moreover, Medair is working on rehabilitating the borehole in St Theresa’s church in order to give 1000 people access to safe drinking water; we are also planning to provide support to those who have suffered gender-based violence during the fighting in a clinic Medair is supporting near Gudele. We are also hoping to provide medical supplies if access and transportation is possible.
The safety of our staff remains a priority, the members of our staff who are non-essential to this response have been evacuated and we are bringing in staff with critical skills to help manage this response.
Medair calls on all parties to the conflict to uphold the cease-fire so that life-saving assistance can reach the people who need it. We hope and pray that lasting peace will come to South Sudan along with renewed hope for the future.
South Sudan became an independent nation on 9 July 2011. Medair has been present in the region since 1991, and since the beginning of the conflict has been assisting thousands of affected people through nutrition, health, water and sanitation, and emergency shelter. You can find out more about our work in South Sudan on our website: http://www.medair.org/countries/south-sudan/
For media
Media enquiries should be directed to Nath Fauveau, Press Relations, +41 78 635 3095, nathalie.fauveau@medair.org
For regular updates, please check our twitter feed @MedairInt and @MedairPress
Medair is an international relief agency headquartered in Switzerland. We help people who are suffering in remote and devastated communities around the world survive crises and recover with dignity, regardless of race, creed or nationality.