Published: January 08, 2012
'Massive Humanitarian Operation' Under Way in Troubled Jonglei State
By Mina Fabulous 
A massive humanitarian operation is under way in troubled Jonglei state where recent inter-ethnic clashes rocked the region, leaving tens of thousands people displaced and in need of urgent aid.
The United Nations carried out relief needs assessments in most of the affected areas over the past 72 hours.
According to Elisabeth Byrs, aspokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), assessments have been carried in Pibor, Likuangole, Boma and Walgak. She added that more evaluations would be carried out in Fertait and Bilait.
Children from near Pibor, in Jonglei State, South Sudan, are among those displaced by a recent outbreak of ethnic violence in the area, including retaliatory attacks on traditionally Murle lands by rival group, the Lou Nuer. UN Photo/Isaac Billy
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UN agencies and the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported significant humanitarian needs in all areas assessed. An estimated 50,000 people are thought to be in need of help.
Fighting broke out last week between the Lou Nuer tribe and the rival Murle tribe in a remote area of the state of Jonglei. Some 6,000 armed Lou Nuer members attacked the main Murle town of Pibor Monday.
The inter-ethnic violence has displaced tens of thousands of people and killed an unknown number of others last month.
Around 60,000 people were hiding in the bush and many had lost their settlements or grain storages.
Ms. Byrs reported that the situation was currently calm. However, the influx of people returning to Pibor continued and the number of those registered stood at 942 households or 4,710 individuals by yesterday.
In Boma in the south-eastern part of Pibor County, some 1,700 people had been registered as displaced as of yesterday. Monitoring for further outbreaks of violence would continue, she added.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) voiced concern that food shortages could reach crisis levels.
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said one of five children wounded during the violence had died during medical evacuation, according to the agency's spokesperson Marixie Mercado, who added that reports of nine children being abducted had been verified. Some 45 unaccompanied minors had been registered.
UNHCR also has started airlifting relief supplies into the towns of Malakal and Mabaan, with 16 flights having delivered 1,450 family tents, 10,000 kitchen sets, 18,000 blankets, 18,000 jerry cans, plastic sheets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets and other essential relief items since 20 December.
Ravaged by civil war, South Sudan is one of the least developed nations. Legislation since independence is still in the early stages. Few roads exist outside the capital Juba, while the economy entirely depends on oil.
Mina Fabulous follows the news, especially what is going on in the US State Department. Mina turns State Department waffle into plain english. Contact Mina through NewsBlaze.
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