IOM has started providing water and hygiene kits to 700 displaced
people in Abyei who fled ongoing military clashes between Sudan and
South Sudan.

The displaced families, mostly women and children, abandoned
their houses on 21 April 2012 in the village of Abiemnom in South
Sudan's Unity State when the fighting broke out and trekked some 20
km to the village of Rumamier, in Abyei.

The distribution of aid including jerry cans, buckets and water
purification tablets, started on Monday, 23 April 2012. IOM is also
disseminating hygiene messages among the displaced written on
T-shirts and posters.

With the onset of the rainy season, the aim is to prevent water
borne diseases such as diarrhea and dysentery. IOM is also setting
up emergency latrines to prevent the contamination of the Bahr el
Arab/Kiir River, which is adjacent to the site where displaced
families are located.

IOM is also providing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
services to Misseria and Ngok Dinka communities in Abyei, following
an earlier humanitarian needs assessment.

The relief operations are being supported by the multi-donor
Common Humanitarian Fund and the Government of Japan.

For more information please contact:

Johannes Braun

IOM Khartoum

Tel: +249 (0)922 406 676

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