CAR AMBUSHED NEAR IKOTOS; NCA STAFF MEMBER KILLED...
On 10 December, one Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) driver and four passengers were killed when an NCI car was ambushed on the road between Ikotos and Imotong. According to NCA, the car was ambushed some seven kilometers from Imotong, near a place called Lofulung. Two passengers ( a nurse from Ikotos and an SRRA officer ( escaped from the ambush and returned to Ikotos by foot to alert the local authorities. Upon investigation, authorities identified the bandits as local criminals and are pursuing them. NCA has ongoing health, education, water, and womens programmes in Eastern Equatoria.

OUTBREAK OF SEVERE DIARRHOEAL DISEASE UNDER CONTROL...

The outbreak of severe diarrhoeal disease, which was first reported in Labone and later spread westward to Parajok, is reportedly under control. No new cases are being reported, and NGOs in the area are focusing on community awareness to prevent similar outbreaks in future.

WFP TEAM RELOCATED FROM AJIEP...

Food deliveries were interrupted on 14 December, when five WFP staff were forced to flee for ten hours by foot from Ajiep to Acumcum by foot due to insecurity. WFP reports that 86mts of food had already been distributed, but some 14mts that were left on the ground have been looted and burnt by the invading militia.

BOMBS DROPPED NEAR NATINGA...

Three bombs were dropped on the New Cush-Natinga road, some six kilometers from Natinga,on 14 December. The bombing was witnessed by an OLS convoy who reported no damage or casualties.

BOMBS DROPPED ON ADIOR...

Two bombs were dropped on Adior on 10 December. One Radda Barnen staff member was on the ground and reported no damage or casualties.

WFP UPDATE...

-WFP continued food deliveries during 8-15 December to locations in southern Sudan. Deliveries and distribution in Ajiep, Bahr el Ghazal, to 21,000 beneficiaries were interrupted when the town was attacked and WFP staff were forced to relocate by foot to Acumcum. Some 86mts of food had already been distributed and approximately 14mts of cereals and pulses that were left on the ground have been looted and burnt by the invading forces. In Mading, Upper Nile, distribution of 54mts is planned for 7,500 beneficiaries. WFP teams will facilitate the election of local relief committees who will assist with distributions. In Narus, Eastern Equatoria, distribution of 59mts of cereals, pulses, and oil was completed to 5,800 beneficiaries.

-During 8-15 December, WFP delivered 9.5mt of cereals, pulses, oil, DSM (dry skimmed milk) and Unimix to 2,776 beneficiaries in support of NGO programmes in southern Sudan. Food support for training, staff, and capacity building workshops was delivered to ACROSS, MSF-Holland, MEDAIR and IRC in Akot, Pochalla, Atar, Paluer, Aburoc and Ganyiel. Oil, UNIMIX and DSM were also supplied to MSF-Holland, MEDAIR and MSF-Belgium in support of supplementary feeding programmes in Atar, Leer, Duar, Maridi and Akobo. Finally, relief food was distributed for in-patient feeding to MSF-Holland, MEDAIR and MSF-Belgium in Pochalla, Manajang, Langken, Leer, Duar and Akobo.

-A joint WFP/UNICEF/Action Contre la Faim (ACF) emergency assessment was completed in Akoc. Preliminary finding suggest the movement of people to Akoc from Wunrok, Mayen Abun, Turalei, Akak, Abyei, and Panyok, due to insecurity. Monitoring assessments are underway in Panyagor and Walgak and are expected to be completed next week.