UNHCR, the United Nations agency for Refugees, is operating two air bridges to Upper Nile State from Juba and Nairobi to supply critical non food items to returnees during the rainy season.
UNHCR Senior External Relations officer Teresa Ongaro told CRN that the air bridge from Juba to Paloich airport in Melut County started on Saturday to move plastic sheeting, blankets, jarricans, kitchen sets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets and water drilling materials for 50,000 refugees.She said today another air bridge opened from Nairobi to Paloich to deliver 5,000 tents.
Ms Ongaro said the refugee camps in Upper Nile face two main challenges: water shortages and an ever increasing influx of people from Blue Nile in the Sudan.
She said new boreholes were drilled but are not giving sufficient water for the refugees in Jamam and the camp has to be moved to a better place.
Ms Ongaro said aid agencies relocated 35,000 new arrivals to Kilo Eighteen, a temporary camp with man-made dams with a good supply of water during the rains.
UNHCR launched the two air bridges to deliver much needed services quickly to refugees during the rainy season.