Juba, 26 November: A European Union delegation led by EU Ambassador Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff and accompanied by the Ambassador of France and representatives from the embassies of the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Denmark and Sweden, visited the Yida refugee Camp, Unity State on 15/16 November. The visit was facilitated by UNHCR. The mission had the opportunity to meet with the local authorities, the refugee population and the Refugee Camp Committee, as well as to visit projects implemented by UNHCR, WFP and the international NGOs working in Yida.
The mission was positively impressed by the dedication of the humanitarian workers in assisting the refugees in a challenging location with limited access during six months of the year throughout the rain season. The mission took note of the complex and expensive logistics, entirely dependent on air transport which are essential for securing adequate emergency services for food and nutrition, water and sanitation and health, some of which are funded by the EU.
During the meeting with the Refugee Committee, Ambassador Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff underlined the EU's commitment to not only provide life saving services to the refugee population but also to ensure that the refugees can access economic livelihood activities and enjoy access to adequate basic services, notably in the field of education, in locations that are safer and more accessible than the camp in Yida.
The mission recalled the concerns of the international community with the camp's proximity to disputed borders and the associated risks for the refugees' protection, as well as the necessity to protect the civilian nature of the refugee camp without any interference from armed groups. There is a short window of opportunity during the dry season to prepare alternative sites that will be accessible by road from Unity state during the rain season. The current use of air transport for food and similar humanitarian assistance is costly, severely impacts the effectiveness of the operation and thereby services available for the refugee population, and is not sustainable in the future. The EU supports UNHCR's efforts to find suitable locations further away from the border and commended the Refugee Camp Committee's commitment to work with UNHCR and the local authorities towards a solution for relocation of the refugee population to alternative sites.
**Martin KARIMI **Programme Assistant - Information **European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) **Regional Support Office for Central, Eastern, Southern Africa & the Indian Ocean Region