IOM is working with its United Nations and NGO partners to prepare
for the return and reintegration of tens of thousands of persons
displaced by last month's fighting  between the Sudanese army
and the Southern People's Liberation Movement in the disputed
oil-rich town of Abyei.

This follows the signing last week of the Abyei road map between
Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir and his southern vice-president
Salva Kiir, which calls for the deployment of a joint north-south
Sudanese force to prevent a resumption of fighting, which left more
than 60 people dead and some 50,000 displaced.

IOM's fleet of ten 30-tonne trucks continue to provide critical
logistical support to agencies and international NGOs bringing
assistance to the displaced.

Over the weekend, 450 empty fuel drums were transported from
Bentiu to Agok, some 20 kilometres south of Abyei, to provide more
latrines for the thousands of displaced families. 

"With the oncoming rainy season, it is crucial to limit health
risks linked to poor sanitation," says IOM's Operations Officer in
Turalei, Otto Bijleveld. "The drums will be used by the Irish NGO
GOAL to construct additional latrines which are indispensable to
secure access to safe drinking
water."     

Two large IOM storage tents have been assembled in the town of
Turalei to warehouse 2,000 non-food item (NFI) kits for 2,000
households, including tents and plastic sheeting, which could be
distributed to returning families. A similar number of NFI kits
have also been prepositioned by IOM in the nearby town of
Wau. 

Four IOM trucks on loan to the World Food Programme (WFP) are
also being used to conduct food distribution in areas of south of
Abyei, including Abatok, Malual Alio, Awal and Wunpeth.

So far, IOM has sent more than 260 tonnes of humanitarian
assistance to the Abyei region, including tents and NFI kits,
containing mosquito nets, soap, plastic sheets and mats, blankets
and jerry cans in addition to food for organizations such as
UNICEF, ICRC, GOAL, WHO, WFP, UNFPA and ACF. 

To sustain this effort, IOM is urgently seeking funds to cover
the costs of maintaining its logistical support for the
inter-agency effort in areas of the displaced.

"So far we've been supporting this effort in the belief that
support for this crucial assistance will materialize," said IOM's
Chief of Mission Mario Tavolaj, "but funds must come quickly if we
are to sustain this effort."

For more information, please contact:

Otto Bijleveld

IOM Agok

Tel: + 88 21 66 7000 299

E-mail: "mailto:obijleveld@iom.int">obijleveld@iom.int