IOM with the support of the UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) has airlifted 5,000 mosquito nets, 5,000 blankets and other non-food items to an estimated 3,500 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have fled their homes in the Southern state of Jonglei following fighting between two warring tribes sparked by cattle rustling. According to government officials, fighting on 18th August, 2011 between Murle and Lou Nuer caused the deaths of 600 persons and the abduction of 208 children. In addition, 250,000 persons have been made homeless as a result of looting and the torching of 7,924 houses. As a result, displaced women, children, elderly and sick are now living in the open in six makeshift camps at Pieri, Pathai, Yuai, Mutot, Karaam and Pulchol, all in the Jonglei state without any protection from heavy rains that continue to affect many parts of Southern Sudan. IOM staff says the makeshift camps, which are made of straw and tree branches, lack basic health and hygiene facilities, which increases the risk of disease outbreaks during the on-going rainy season. "Aid organizations are faced with many challenges to provide humanitarian assistance to the displaced," says IOM's Gerry Waite in Juba. "The few roads passable during the dry season have been swamped by heavy rains, rendering many affected areas inaccessible." Insecurity caused by militia attacks on humanitarian personnel, their vehicles and car-jackings, means that many humanitarian organizations are unable to operate in Jonglei state. Another security hazard is caused by landmines which were left behind following a twenty-year civil war which ended with the signing of the peace agreement in 2005. The IOM airlift, which is carried out by UNMISS helicopters and coordinated with Save the Children and the Polish Humanitarian Action has delivered assistance to the isolated villages of Mutot, Pulchuol and Karaam, which have so far not been reached by aid organizations and are host to some 12,000 IDPs. More airlifts are planned for the other locations in the coming days. For more information, please contact: Gerard Waite IOM Juba Tel: +249922406615 E-mail: "mailto:gwaite@iom.int">gwaite@iom.int