7 August 2013 - In an effort to reach more needy people in conflict-torn Jonglei, the World Food Programme (WFP) brought three more helicopters to the state today.
The agency is using helicopters to deliver urgent food aid to tens of thousands of people who have fled violence in Jonglei. The state’s lack of roads and current rains make delivering food by land impossible.
On 23 July, WFP appealed to donors for nearly $20 million to support expanded operations for 60,000 conflict-affected people in Jonglei until December, and has received pledges to cover some of the helicopter costs.
The pledges had allowed WFP to hire the three additional MI-8 MTV helicopters, said WFP Spokesperson George Fominyen. “This will enable us to airlift food for 30,000 people for the next three months.”
Close to 18,000 displaced people have received food over the past few weeks in areas of Pibor County, with distributions in Dorein, Labrab, Pibor town and Gumruk, Mr. Fominyen said.
Adding that WFP was appealing for funds to purchase more food and cover costs for additional helicopters, Mr. Fominyen said the agency expected donors to respond positively.
WFP was previously using two humanitarian response helicopters funded by the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
Despite the additional helicopters, WFP South Sudan Country Director Chris Nikoi said the agency must still overcome massive challenges.
“It is … going to be logistically challenging because the amount of food that we are transporting … is not going to be enough, given the humanitarian needs on the ground,” he said.
“The reality is that this conflict caused the people, especially (around) Pibor, to completely miss the planting season and (they) have not been able to cultivate during this rainy season,” the director added.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has reported that an estimated 100,000 people in Pibor County have been cut off from life-saving assistance due to fighting between state and non-state armed groups and a resurgence of inter-communal clashes.
Mr. Nikoi was concluding a day-long visit to Pibor town to assess humanitarian needs on the ground. He was accompanied by OCHA South Sudan head Vincent Lelei, South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission Chairperson Peter Lam Both and other senior officials.