People displaced by conflict in Western Equatoria State’s Nagero County who fled to Wau County’s Kpaile Payam in Western Bahr El-Ghazal State on Monday started receiving cash assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Mustafa Abulhimal, the head of the ICRC office in Wau, told Radio Tamazuj that they are responding to the humanitarian needs of the 12,000 conflict-displaced people and said that each of the eligible 2,000 households will receive SSP 795,000.
“Today (Monday), ICRC is supporting the IDP community with cash assistance for 2,000 households,” he disclosed. “We usually give the cash to the head of the household, so then they have freedom to use the money in a way that can provide basic services. Each household is receiving SSP.”
Abulhimal also revealed that ICRC is supporting the displaced people and the host community with emergency health kits.
“ICRC is also donating medical supplies to Bazia PHCC and rehabilitating several handpumps to provide clean water for IDPs and the host community,” he added. “The ICRC team, working in collaboration with the South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC), has rehabilitated three handpumps.”
Meanwhile, the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to ICRC, saying the cash assistance will help them purchase basic needs such as food and shelter. Stanislaus Henry, a recipient of the cash assistance, lauded ICRC.
“Today (Monday), I am so happy because my family and I will have something good to eat,” he stated. “I will also use some of this money to buy some drugs to help my children in the future.”
For her part, Maria Martin Selverio, a 22-year-old mother of three, thanked ICRC for providing cash assistance to the IDPs.
“If I get sorghum, groundnuts, or any other food, I will buy them so that we can eat with my kids,” she said.
Meanwhile, James Sanve, a youth leader in the camp, said he will use part of the money to feed his family and the rest to start a business.
“I will allocate some of the money to start a business, some to make a shelter, and some for food,” he said.
Relatedly, the Kpaile Community Association handed over 37 bags of assorted clothes, sorghum, groundnuts, cups, and other items to support the displaced population.