Caritas Malakal Reaches Out to IDPs Fleeing from Violence in Unity State, South Sudan

He continued, “What we've distributed is insufficient for them, but what we have on hand is what we've given them because what we had was insufficient for everyone.”

“We only gave the items to vulnerable households; most people require assistance because they lack even basic tools,” Mr. Wahn told ACI Africa during the September 15 interview.

The official of Caritas Malakal said that the IDPs they are reaching out to “can't rely on the food they're getting because it won't last a week at their house.”

"As Caritas, we plan to distribute food items to these people because we have some, but not enough for everyone who has come,” he said.

Mr. Wahn appealed for more support for Caritas Malakal initiative in reaching out to IDPs.

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He said, “There is a need to support these people because the gap is very big. The IDPs residing in Malakal are lacking many things and they need support because the shelter being provided is not enough while it’s raining.”

Asked about the violent in Unity State, the WASH program officer called upon the parties in conflict to engage in dialogue for peace.

He said, “Let our leaders come together to talk and leave this fighting to allow the civilians to be in their location because they are innocent not knowing what is happening.”

“There is a need for peace because it can give us a way to work, and people can move freely because currently with this crisis someone cannot be able to go to the field, and they come to stay in the PoC where they cannot go out and walk,” Mr. Wahn added in reference to the site in Malakal that was established following the civil war in the world’s youngest nation that started on 15 December 2013. 

“There should be peace for these vulnerable people because without peace there will be no development,” the official of Caritas Malakal told ACI Africa, and appealed to the people of God in South Sudan, “Let us encourage peace and leave hatred and tribalism that are happening.”

On September 8, the Coordinator of Caritas Malakal told ACI Africa that humanitarian needs in South Sudan’s Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei States are overwhelming due to violent conflicts and general “unrest”.

Sr. Elena Balatti explained, “The Humanitarian needs are overwhelming because there has been a lot of unrest this year in Unity and Upper Nile States and Northern part of Jonglei State.” 

“We have had an influx of people who fled the violence from the Adidiang camps when the IDP camp was attacked by the militia elements who killed people but we don’t know how many,” the member of the Comboni Missionary Sisters (CMS) added.

Patrick Juma Wani is a South Sudanese journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. Patrick holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from Makerere Institute for Social Development (MISD) in Uganda. He has over 7 years of extensive experience in leading the development and implementation of media, advocacy, communication and multimedia strategy and operations, with an excellent track record of editorial leadership, budget management, and stakeholder outreach. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.