An official said today the UN is launching a massive humanitarian emergency operation in Pibor as calm returned to the region to help the people affected by the intertribal violence to rebuild their lives.
UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator Lise Grande told CRN News that their top priority is to help the population of Likwangole and Pibor to rebuild their lives.She said most have lost their belongings including cattle and are in need of help.
Ms Grande added that yesterday the UN World Food Program started distributing food to many orphans and the unaccompanied children in Pibor.
She explained that the first food supplies were flown in to Pibor hours after Lou Nuer fighters left the town.
Ms Grande said she was in Pibor yesterday and saw the people returning from the bush in a very serious condition because some of them had been in the open and without food for more than one week.
She explained that the assessment delegation went to Pibor yesterday at the request of the President of the Republic, Salva Kiir Mayardit, to look into the situation and launch a life saving operation.
She added that Pibor town is now is safe but the humanitarian situation is grim.
Ms Grande said more than 130 wounded have been evacuated, and most of them are in Juba Teaching Hospital.
She said that the UN will investigate accusations made by Murle leaders that UNMISS, the UN Mission in South Sudan, failed to protect civilians.
She stressed that the UN Security Council has mandated UNMISS to assist the South Sudan government to discharge its primary responsibility to protect the civilians.