IOM launches humanitarian hub in Pibor to support efforts against disasters

JUBA – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has established humanitarian Hub in South Sudan’s Pibor to help provide lifesaving support to vulnerable communities in emergency situations.

The hub in Pibor will enable the expansion of operations across hard-to-reach areas.

The hub will provide safe, secure, and reliable accommodation as well as offer office space for aid workers from both national and international organizations to respond to natural disasters and other events that require humanitarian assistance.

“The Humanitarian Hub goes beyond just a physical structure. It is a way to ensure that when a humanitarian crisis occurs which calls for urgent response, humanitarian teams are ready on the ground to respond swiftly and effectively to save the lives of affected populations,” said Peter Van der Auweraert, IOM’s Chief of Mission in South Sudan.

He said they are scaling up support facing unprecedented heavy flooding which make road networks impassable, cutting off humanitarian aid.

“We need humanitarian teams to be as close as possible to the people they serve, and this is exactly what the humanitarian hub offers,” said Peter Van der Auweraert he addd.

He added that the hub will accommodate humanitarian workers from all humanitarian responders, both national and international alike.

Speaking at the ceremony, the head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Steve O’Malley, said: “With funding from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, we are delighted to see the Pibor Humanitarian Hub opens today. South Sudan is facing its highest levels of food insecurity and malnutrition since the country declared independence ten years ago and it is critical that we have a presence in areas where we can swiftly reach the most food-insecure people.

“People in hard-to-reach areas in GPAA are facing catastrophic conditions. Sub-national violence, flooding, and poor road conditions have made it difficult to reach people with humanitarian assistance. The humanitarian hub will help to ease the pressure on humanitarian organizations and play an important role to ensure a more predictable humanitarian presence, building the confidence of people in the community.” concluded Steve O’Malley.