Atar community appeals for support to thousands of IDPs
Atar Community of Pigi County in Jonglei State are appealing to the government and the humanitarian agencies to provide humanitarian support to over 4000 internally displaced persons returning to their home from Malakal.
“I would like to appeal to government of Jonglei State, the national government and international development partners, including IOM, UNMISS, WHO, UNOCHA among others to urgently support these IDPs who returned to Atar areas with nothing, no shelters, no food, no health care services,” William Tor, the Secretary General for Atar Community Leadership Council said in an interview in Juba on Sunday.
Tor particularly urged the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Albino Akol Atak to assist in repatriation of IDPs to Atar.
“I appeal to the President of the republic and the First Vice President to provide security services to these vulnerable IDPs,” he said.
The IDPs were displaced from Atar to Malakal of Upper Nile following fighting in December 2015 between Agwelek forces led by General Johnson Olony and their community.
Tor said the IDPs staying in Malakal are estimated to be more than 30, 000.
“They stayed in Malakal without support, they accommodated themselves in Malakal waiting for peace to come. They are not getting support from anybody, no attention was given to them by humanitarian agencies and they decided voluntarily to return,” he said.
“I am appealing to government to intervene and provide humanitarian support because they have nothing, their houses were destroyed, they want shelter, they want food and they want protection,” Tor added.
