Humanitarian Team from Tombura-Yambio Catholic Diocese Offers aid to IDPs in Tombura and Rii-Yubu Payam

The catastrophic situation led to numerous deaths, severe injuries, and loss of property as the attackers burned down homes causing residents to flee for their dear lives. A similar incident occurred around Tombura town where civilians who escaped the attacks are now seeking shelter in the church compounds and other open places under trees. Having fled with not many possessions, the majority of these displaced people lack basic needs and are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

It was there therefore on this note that the Diocese under the department of humanitarian Response decided to visit that affected people to offer albeit minimal assistance that they can afford.

As they departed for their Mission, Kia Moses, the acting administrator of Humekodabe/bera in the Diocese told Rurugene Online News that they were taking food and none food items to be distributed to the vulnerable population affected in Tombura and in Rii-Yubu Payam. He explained that the items they were taking to the IDPs have been contributed by well-wishers from different groups in Yambio who felt that they needed to lend a helping hand to their brothers and sisters in need.

Mr. Kia commended Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio who initiated the program of local contribution in all the parishes in the central and mid-central deaneries to support the displaced persons in Tombura and in Rii-Yubu. He said that business people, institutions, and individuals joined the call from the Bishop and contributed overwhelmingly.

Among the items contributed in Yambio included bags of sugar, bags of maize, bags of rice, sacks of groundnuts, clothes and undisclosed amounts of money, utensils, and bathing buckets among others.

Monoko Leone Rodolf, a member of Parliament in the State Legislative Assembly in Western Equatoria State who was tasked by the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio as a chief mobilizer for the contributions also joined the team that headed to Tombura and Rii-Yubu to distribute the donations. Monoko said, all the items which were given by the different Parishes, traders, institutions, and individuals were all packed and taken to be given to the people affected.

Monoko urged the citizens, churches, institutions, and all well-wishers to continue supporting the humanitarian assistance office at the Curia as they are still open to receive more donations.

According to Edward Minisare, the Jesuit Refugees Data clerk in Rii-Yubu Payam, after the deadly attack that took place on June 21, 2021, in the area which is about 24 miles west of Tombura County, no group has claimed the attack. The attackers matted serious crimes against civilians who were not lucky to escape on time. These including defilement of a 13-year old girl, killing of five people who were shot, abduction of at least 30 people whose where about is yet to be known. In addition, over 300 houses were burnt to ashes, and property worth an unknown amount of money was destroyed. At the moment the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), a government institution tasked for registration of refugees and displaced persons has not officially given out the current number of people who have been displaced in those areas.

By Elias Ginana Mangbondo