United Nations Radio

The International Organization for Migration, IOM, is providing emergency assistance to tens of people who have been displaced by fighting in the town of Abyei in Sudan.

According to IOM's estimates up to 60,000 people have fled over the past week to the town of Agok and surrounding villages to escape large-scale fighting in Abyei between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and the Sudanese Armed Forces. IOM spokesman, Jean-Phillipe Chauzy says they need urgent assistance.

"The situation of the displaced is very bad - they're in desperate need of shelter, food, water and medical assistance. Of course, the relief operation is incredibly complicated, because of chronic insecurity, because of the poor state of roads."

Mr. Chauzy says IOM has aid pre-positioned in Juba, which it is sending by convoy to Abyei. This includes medical kits, water purification systems and other relief goods provided by partner UN agencies.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.

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