IOM is delivering emergency aid to thousands of people who have
fled the conflict in the disputed Abyei region between north and
south Sudan.

As the security situation in the area continues to be volatile,
IOM, is providing trucks, essential non-food relief items, fuel and
medicines to support humanitarian operations.

Reports suggest that tens of thousands of internally displaced
persons (IDPs) have poured into Southern Sudan’s Warrap,
Unity and Northern Bahr El Ghazal states. Many are in need of food
and water and, with the recent heavy rains, may be vulnerable to
water-borne diseases and respiratory tract infections.

IOM has registered four truckloads of IDPs who arrived in
Turalei in Warrap State on May 25th. A further 1,000 IDPs arrived
yesterday, May 26th , in Wunrok, south of Turalei and have been met
by an IOM team.

IOM, which has registered some 6,500 IDPs in the past two days,
has also provided transport for 138 IDPs who were walking towards
Gogrial West, south west of Wunrok.

An IOM mobile clinic has been put on standby in Wau to provide
help if requested by other humanitarian organisations in the area.
IOM has also made USD 1 million from its US-funded Sudan Rapid
Response Fund available to local and international NGOs responding
to the Abyei crisis.

IOM is also distributing 1,000 kits containing non-food relief
items, including plastic sheeting, jerry cans, mosquito nets, soap,
blankets, sleeping mats and cooking utensils in Mayen Abun, and
Turalei in Warrap State. It is also helping to construct emergency
latrines.

Tracking and assessing the displaced population has been
difficult because many people are still on the move or are hiding
in the bush.  The continued heavy rainfall has made some roads
impassable and this has impeded access to areas where IDPs may be
sheltering.

IOM is therefore setting up tracking hubs in order to monitor
the movements of the IDPs, collect demographic information and
identify vulnerable cases including unaccompanied minors and
children separated from their parents.

It is also planning for longer term assistance, which will
include providing trucks to humanitarian organisations,
coordinating the distribution of non-food relief items, procuring
equipment to treat and distribute clean water, and organising the
return of IDPs back to Abyei, once the crisis is over.

For more information, please contact:

Gerard Waite

IOM Juba

Tel: + 249 922406615 

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