A WFP helicopter being loaded with humanitarian food supplies to Pibor, the town affected by the conflict [©Gurtong]
By Po-w James Raeth
PIBOR, 15th January 2012 [Gurtong] - Aircraft congestion is hindering humanitarian operations in the devastated Pibor County of Jonglei State as many NGOs and government humanitarian organisations supply food and non food items that’s according to the State Director of Relief and Rehabilitation Commission Mr. Gabriel Deng Ajak.
Deng Ajak said that, “as a government organisation responsible of all NGOs operating in South Sudan, we urge United Nation Mission In South Sudan (UNMISS) to construct a separate air strip for helicopters and leave the old airstrip to flying wings planes only to ease air congestion,” he said.
Gabriel Deng added that, so far a plane has to rotate thrice in the air before landing in Pibor air strip due to high number of both NGOs and Government organisation aircrafts supplying relief items.
Gabriel said, “planes fly to Pibor from Bor and other parts of South Sudan, Juba and abroad.” He added that some organisations mobilise funds from the International Communities in the name of Jonglei conflicts but none of the funds reach the needy, he threatened the screening of the organisation claiming operation on humanitarian bases in Jonglei.
World Food Programme (WFP) officials confirmed that they fly’s in more than 7 cargos in a day in the last seven days. WFP supply’s both food and non food items like cooking utilises.
Other NGOs carrying out main operations in the area are, Save the Children UK and MSF which resumed operation after suspending its operation due to the looting of its stores and hospital on 31ST/12/2011 when the Lou Nuer youth stormed and captured the Pibor administrative headquarters.
The official from WFP said they face difficulties in distributing the aid due to lack of roads to access the camping areas in Pibor; hence the biggest displaced population of Pibor camps at the airstrip to access food aid.