UN donates essential non-food items to Malakal prisoners
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan in cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, have donated blankets, mosquito nets and other essential non-food supplies to inmates of the county prison in Malakal in the Upper Nile region.
The nimble handover of the UNHCR-supplied items, which also included sleeping mats, soap and buckets, was the result of a visit to the prison about a week ago to assess the conditions of both the facilities and those incarcerated.
During that previous visit, the team of UNMISS human rights officers confirmed that conditions at the prison have improved significantly since the last evaluation was made, especially with regards to health and cleanliness. In addition, convicted prisoners are no longer cohabiting with those on remand, and juvenile offenders are separated from adults.
Speaking while receiving the non-food items, the Acting Director-General of Malakal Central Prison, Chol Ayat, expressed his appreciation for the donation.
“I’m very happy about the initiative of the human rights team and their partners, for what they’ve done. We will make sure the prisoners receive the items for their use especially in the cold season,” Mr. Ayat said.
On his part, the acting head of the UNMISS human rights office in Malakal, Sonny Onyegbula, said the robust intervention was made in response to needs identified and reported while monitoring the facilities.
“The prison director made a request for blankets, mosquito nets and other things for the prisoners. We have been supporting vulnerable people in the Upper Nile area for many years and will continue to do so.”
Last year, the UN peacekeeping mission handed over a refurbished courthouse and police station to the authorities in Malakal. A judge has recently been sworn in to office and is already busy discharging his duties.