More aid arriving in Ethiopia to protect South Sudanese refugees
More aid arriving in Ethiopia to protect South Sudanese refugees
Famagusta Gazette, 16 Apr 2014
URL: http://famagusta-gazette.com/more-aid-arriving-in-ethiopia-to-protect-south-sudanese-refugees-p23137-69.htm
Airlifts of tents and the construction of new camps are currently underway to help South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
More than 95,000 South Sudanese refugees are now in Ethiopia since the conflict erupted last December, and up to one thousand are still arriving every day.
UNHCR said refugees arrive on their last legs, malnourished, and needing emergency attention.
Spokesperson Melissa Flemming highlighted the gravity of the situation.
"We're taking money out of our reserves to fly in tents, to establish camps, to make sure the infrastructure is there so that they can be properly treated. I was there a couple of weeks ago. I have to say it was pretty shocking and what I realized when we were standing there is that if UNHCR wasn't there, WFP and some of our NGO partners, these people would be dead."
Ms. Flemming added that it took up to 25 days for some people to walk from South Sudan to the refugee camps in Ethiopia.
During this flight, they were exposed to violence and some men were being forcibly recruited by rebel movements or killed, the agency said. — (FG/Agencies)
More than 95,000 South Sudanese refugees are now in Ethiopia since the conflict erupted last December, and up to one thousand are still arriving every day.
UNHCR said refugees arrive on their last legs, malnourished, and needing emergency attention.
Spokesperson Melissa Flemming highlighted the gravity of the situation.
"We're taking money out of our reserves to fly in tents, to establish camps, to make sure the infrastructure is there so that they can be properly treated. I was there a couple of weeks ago. I have to say it was pretty shocking and what I realized when we were standing there is that if UNHCR wasn't there, WFP and some of our NGO partners, these people would be dead."
Ms. Flemming added that it took up to 25 days for some people to walk from South Sudan to the refugee camps in Ethiopia.
During this flight, they were exposed to violence and some men were being forcibly recruited by rebel movements or killed, the agency said. — (FG/Agencies)