IOM organizes cultural exhibition for displaced persons in Bentiu
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Unity State Ministry of Culture and Sport on Friday organized cultural exhibition in Bentiu internally displaced people’s camp.
The event aims to reunite different communities living within the crowded IDP camp.
“The purpose of organizing the cultural festival show is to promote peace, morals and unity among the internally displaced people, and this will reduce violence against women and children as we have witnessed in the different cultural shows today,” said Mariam Matula, the head of the IOM sub-office in the state.
Several ethnic groups like the Shilluk community of Upper Nile State and Nuer of Unity State attended the festival.
Others included, the Ghanaian United Nations contingent and state officials.
Matula saidthe cultural festival will continue to be staged annually between Peacekeepers, Upper Nile community and seven counties of Unity State.
“We will continue to support cultural festival shows to promote peace and unity, we will make sure that IDP camp residents are living in peace,” said Matula.
Gatluak Luony Thichang, Bentiu IDP camp chairperson thanked IOM for reuniting different communities with UN peacekeepers.
The IDPs in the camp were displaced following outbreak of conflict in December 2013 caused by political differences between President Salva Kiir and his then Vice President Riek Machar.
Bentiu IDP camp is the largest camp in South Sudan hosting several ethnic communities.
