In July of last year, South Sudan became an independent country and since then, more than 360,000 South Sudanese have returned from Sudan. South Sudan is expecting these numbers to increase in the coming weeks, as up to 500,000 South Sudanese have to decide by April 8 whether they register as a foreign worker in north Sudan or leave the country.
Coming from the north by rail to Northern Bahr el Ghazal State and through Renk, the main way station in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State which borders Sudan, as many as 10,000 people a day could arrive in Unity State if sufficient transport options can be found. From there it is hoped that available transportation can enable them to proceed to their home locations in the other states in the country.
“However, due to a lack of funding this transport may not be available and they may be stuck in way stations for a long period,” says Peter Avenell, Assistant Country Director for CARE South Sudan. Those returning to South Sudan will require at least short term emergency assistance and support for sustainable re-integration, as many of them haven’t lived in South Sudan for decades or have never been to their home country. However, discussions between both governments are currently underway to allow citizens of either country residing in the other country to have certain guarantees on status, including residence, movement, economic activity, and acquiring and disposing of property. “This would ease the pressure on people’s decisions and their urgent returns”, Avenell says.
CARE and partners undertake a joint assessment to prepare for the returnees
CARE, together with South Sudanese authorities, the UN and other NGOs conducted an initial assessment on one possible way station in Bentiu in Unity State to define the needs and accommodate the expected influx of South Sudanese refugees. “CARE and partners are preparing for an expected mass influx of returnees”, says Peter Avenell. “However, the UN and NGOs lack urgent funding to start preparing and implementing measures to support the returnees.”
As the outcome of the assessment on Bentiu’s way station suggested there is an urgent need to rehabilitate boreholes in order to provide safe water as well as to construct shelter and health facilities for temporary accommodation of the returnees. “CARE could assist with health services through mobile clinics and with emergency water and sanitation supplies, but we need the support of donors to start with this intervention. In addition, the upcoming rainy season at the end of April will severely hamper road access to many areas across South Sudan. We therefore need to get ready before the roads are impassable as otherwise agencies will have severe constraints in positioning supplies”, Avenell continues.
Internal displacement, conflict and irregular rainfall cause rising food insecurity in South Sudan
In addition to the returnees, South Sudan is experiencing conflict, internal displacement as well as an influx of refugees from Sudan, which has complex drivers such as inter-communal conflict, armed militias and tensions between Sudan and South Sudan. Erratic rainfall, conflict, insecurity, closure of commercial trade from the North and the high number of returnees has furthermore undermined people’s ability to obtain food. Food insecurity is therefore increasing, and it is estimated that more than one third of South Sudan’s population of eight million people will be either severely or moderately food insecure as the year progresses.
CARE is planning to respond to the influx of returnees through nutrition as well as water and sanitation and health interventions. A shelter project funded by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will provide local materials to returnees to construct local design huts, also called tukuls. In addition, CARE continues to provide much needed health services as the lead health agency in Unity State, and for an additional caseload of refugees in the Yida, Pariang and Nyiel refugee camps through establishing vaccination campaigns and treating patients.
Read more about CARE's work to support South Sudanese returnees here.