The Central Equatoria State (CES) government has bequeathed the dustbin of oblivion the decision to declare Mangalla town as an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
The National Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Peter Mayen has last week declared Mangalla Payam as an IDP hundreds of families displaced by ravaging floods in Jonglei sought refuge in the geographical location.
But Mayen’s decision has faced a backlash after the office of the Governor in CES blamed the Minister for dealing directly with the authorities in Jonglei instead of liaising with the state governor’s office.
On the 23 of September, a document circulated on social media from the office of the ministry indicates that the report of the declaration of Mangalla was addressed to all Government ministers, County Authority of mangalla, NGOs and Humanitarian organizations.
The letter details that due to the natural calamities and disaster in form of floods which displaced many people from their homes, Managalla would serve as an alternative to accommodate the homeless.
“The government through the line Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has decided to establish an Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Mangalla town,” the letter reads.
However, according to a press release from the office of the Governor, the leadership has “with enormous scrutiny” observed that the minister’s letter was not appropriate.
“Since it is not within his competency to append his approval in the area in question and therefore, the state leadership would like to call upon the national minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management to reconsider his decision on declaring Mangalla as an internally displaced people’s camp and calls for coordination and cooperation on issues regarding the affairs of the internally displaced persons,” the statement reads in part.
The state governor of Central Equatorial State cited that from the date of the letter from the ministry of humanitarian affairs’ declaration has constituted a committee to look and compile comprehensive analysis on the issue of the internally displaced persons from Jonglei State and oversee what could be done to alleviate their plight and in which the tasked body is still doing its best through the humanitarian agencies.
“The state leadership would like to still inform its citizens and beyond that, there hasn’t been any decision reached on declaring Mangalla as an internally displaced people’s camp and the leadership promised to further engage the national minister for humanitarian affairs and disaster management for reconsideration of his circulating position on the cited area,” the statement continues.