south sudan equatoria response press release 5 16 2012
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7/31/2019 South Sudan Equatoria Response Press Release 5 16 2012
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International Medical Corps to Assist Up To 900 People a Day Returning Into South
Sudan
Margaret Aguirre
Director, Global Communications
310.826.7800
May 17, 2012 - Los Angeles, Calif. International Medical Corps has deployed an Emergency Response
Team to address the humanitarian needs of returnees arriving from Sudan to South Sudan. Acute
malnutrition and a high level of morbidity have been flagged as risks among the returning population.
The National Health Cluster and the Central Equatoria State Ministry of Health asked InternationalMedical Corps to be the lead health agency responding to the arrival of up to 12,000 South Sudanese
returnees currently displaced in Sudan. In preparation, International Medical Corps is establishing a
clinic at the National Teacher Training Institute (NTTI), which will be the largest transit site for returnees.
NTTI, located close to South Sudans capital city of Juba, is expected to hold up to 10,000 people.
Returns began on May 14, and approximately 600 individuals have already arrived in Juba. It is expected
that 600-900 returnees will be arriving each day.
Three International Medical Corps doctors will be staffed at the site, assisted by national clinic officers,
nurses, support staff and a nutritionist. International Medical Corps will provide health services for
returnees and take the lead on nutrition screenings and outpatient therapeutic programming to treat
cases of moderate acute malnutrition. The World Health Organization has provided InternationalMedical Corps with a kit of drugs and medical supplies to treat up to 10,000 people for three months.
In addition to assisting returnees in Juba, International Medical Corps is supporting 49 health facilities in
South Sudan, providing primary and secondary health care, nutrition, and water and sanitation services.
The organization has been present in South Sudan since 1994, and currently works in Jonglei, Upper
Nile, Central Equatoria and Western Equatoria States.
Violence has continued to escalate as South Sudan and Sudan have engaged in protracted border
disputes since the south officially seceded from the north almost a year ago. The economic situation in
South Sudan is grim, as there is very little fuel in the country and its currency is weakening. International
Medical Corps continues to monitor the situation and is prepared to deploy additional teams to address
humanitarian needs.
Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, International Medical Corps' mission has been consistent: relieve
the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care
services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning
devastated populations to self-reliance. For more information visit:
www.InternationalMedicalCorps.org. Also see us onFacebookand follow us onTwitter.
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