Refugees want food rations returned to 100% aid
By Felix Warom
South Sudan refugees in Bidibidi and Imvepi settlements in Yumbe and Terego districts are feeling the pinch from the rising food prices after the World Food Program further cut down on their food rations.
WFP recently cut the food rations by 30 per cent due to challenges of funding and some of items like cooking have been withdrawn or replaced with cash.
The refugees are now crying out to World Food Program for the revival of the 100 per cent provision of food because of the high cost of living.
Led by Emmanuel Alio, the refugees in zone one settlement tabled the matter before the UN Resident Coordinator, Susan Ngongi, after her week-long tour of the different sites to assess progress of projects implemented by the UN agencies in the various resettlements.
The refugees say they used to get 14kg of the maize grain but they now receive 8kg per person.
Responding to the refugees’ concerns, Cyridion Usengumuremyi, the Head of WFP Arua Area, called for calm and patience because without adequate funding, they are only able to provide between 60-70 % food rations for now.
More than 900,000 refugees are assisted monthly by WFP in Adjumani, Kiryadongo, Palabek, Bidibidi, Imvepi, Rhino Camp, Plorinya and Lobule.
65 per cent of these receive in-kind food assistance, while 35 per centare receiving cash based assistance.
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