Situation Overview: Displacement and Intentions in Greater

South Sudan, 2 September 2016

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t or t and provide baseline information to inform o r i a i a Maridi Maridi between armed factions of the Government- oÆ Juba humanitarian planning. Using its “Area of oÆ led SPLA, and the former opposition SPLA- 4 Nzara Weste rn E Origin” methodology to understand the qu Cen a tral to Eq ri Juba ua a to Yambio ri IO. Over the following weeks, fighting spread a situation in hard-to-reach or inaccessible oÆ to other towns and villages throughout the areas, REACH spoke with recently arrived Lainya oÆ oÆ Torit Greater Equatoria region, leading to the Lainya South Sudanese refugees to gather Yei Democratic Republic Yei Æ displacement of thousands of people from a o ri Æ ato o qu information about the triggers and patterns of al E a Centr ri to of the Congo qua their homes, many to neighbouring countries. Eastern E Sudan displacement, and the intentions of IDPs and Kajo-Keji Pageri Magwi oÆ oÆ South Sudan South Sudan host communities. Such information informs Uganda Moyo Since June 30th, 97,947 new arrivals have Uganda Morobo çÆ 1 Ethiopia our understanding of the likelihood of further Kaya Bidibidi been registered in Uganda, which is currently Yumbe Elegu_CPçÆ_IIoÆ çÆ Ô ÙElegu_CP_I South Sudan Ô ÔÔ host to an estimated total of 327,123 South displacement, both within South Sudan and Ô ÔÙ Pagrinya_RC1 Central ÙÙÔPagrinya_RC2 African Ô into Uganda, and provides indicative data Republic Imvepi ÔÔ Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers. Most Ô Ô ÔÔ ÔÔ established refugee settlements in Uganda on the situation of people remaining in their Ocea_RC Adjumani Ù Rhino_Camp are already at capacity, leaving thousands of areas of origin, including their access to basic Arua Ô

services. Ô Refugee camp new arrivals waiting in Collection Points (CPs) Democratic Uganda Republic of Congo Ù Reception centre and Reception Centres (RCs) in the north of ÔKiryandongo Information was collected through eight oÆ Assessed location the country. Most are hoping to be transferred focus group discussions (FGDs) involving a çÆ Border crossing to the new Bidibidi camp in Yumbe, which total of 92 participants living in Kiyrandango 2 Map 1: Assessed communities in Greater Equatoria and refugee settlements in Uganda has a planned capacity of 100,000 refugees. Settlement who had fled from the following Key findings are presented in this report under With Uganda’s refugee settlements already cities and towns: Juba, Maridi, Magwi, Mundri, 1. UNHCR, Uganda – South Sudan Refugee Situation 29 of stretched, any further influx is likely to exceed Yambio, Pageri, Nimule, Yei, Torit, Lainya, and two main sections: August 2016 existing capacity.3 2. UNHCR, Uganda – Emergency Update on the South Sudan Kajo-Keji. Participants came from locations • Displacement dynamics following the Situation, The full extent of displacement as a result across Greater Equatoria, from both urban escalation of conflict 3. UNHCR, Uganda: Emergency Update on the South Sudan of recent conflict across Greater Equatoria settlements (shown on map 1) and surrounding • Intentions, conditions and access to Situation, Inter-Agency Daily #9, July 2016 4. For further details please see: REACH, Assessment of Hard remains unclear. Access for humanitarians rural communities. services for remaining populations in to Reach Areas in the Greater Region of South to most locations in the region is severely Separate discussions were held for males Greater Equatoria Sudan, Project Overview, May 2016. restricted, leaving a limited understanding of and females and included participants with a Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft the current conditions in affected communities, Confédération suisse variety of professional backgrounds, among Confederazione Svizzera and no clear view of the scale of potential them health workers, businessmen, farmers, Confederaziun svizra further displacement into Uganda. Swiss Agency for Development and civil servants. and Cooperation SDC Table 1: Uganda Settlements by Population4 crossing, and then to Ocea reception centre Method of Transportation group discussion participants had commonly near Arua or directly to Kiryondongo. Only fled with their children, leaving their husbands Most respondents appeared to be of some Settlement Name Population those from Kajo-Keii took the Moyo crossing, behind to look after their homes and land. means; many were educated, and had access before going to . Bidibidi (Yumbe) 31,902 to a motor vehicle that could transport them While some reported they had lost contact with Adjumani 140,502 Those who lived close to the border or were quickly to the border. Because of the high their families, others remained in contact until Kampala (City) 8,334 able to procure a means of motorized transport number of motor vehicles used and lack of as recently as last week, although access to Kiryondongo 67,166 were able to get out quickly and make it to local knowledge of the border regions among the last functional network in the area, Vivacell, Uganda before the roads were closed. Those participants, nearly all people travelled along has subsequently been lost in several cities. Rhino Camp 36,163 who did not leave soon enough were turned roads, unless evading armed groups. Choice of current location back by armed groups before they could Note: As of 25 August, the Reception Centre Nearly all respondents reported being stopped reach the border (Phase 3). People living in Upon arrival in Uganda, most focus group in Kiyrandango is no longer receiving new at checkpoints by armed groups. These were towns near the Juba-Nimule highway joined participants travelled directly to Kiyrandango, arrivals. All of those remaining in the reception described as tense situations, in which people the Ugandan military convoy that had entered either leaving other settlements as soon centre have been transferred to Bidibidi were at risk of being robbed, killed, or their South Sudan to evacuate its citizens, allowing as they could procure adequate transport Settlement in Yumbe. children being kidnapped and press-ganged them to bypass checkpoints. or bypassing them entirely. All had prior into service. Fines of several thousand SSP knowledge of Kiryondongo, either from a friend Displacement Those who did not come with the convoy would need to be paid to release their children, or family member, or because they had lived often had to pay armed groups to allow them which many families were unable to do. The All of populations remaining in their areas there in the past after being displaced during to pass on to Uganda. From there, they came vast majority of respondents reported of origin have experienced significant the 2013 displacement crisis or during the 2nd to Kiryondongo as soon as they could find the about community members physically displacement since the re-ignition of the Sudanese Civil War (1983-2006). Kiryondongo public or private means to do so (Phase 4). harmed or killed. conflict on July 8th. Participants reported that was considered a safe place, where refugees Most took only a day or two to find transport to following the outbreak of conflict in most of the Push and Pull Factors would be able to access a plot of land for Kiryondongo. A few attempted to stay in Elegu, towns the following day, people took shelter cultivation, and essential services such as or Rhino Camp before changing their minds All of the participants came to Kiyrandango in their homes or fled to nearby villages for because of insecurity in their location of origin, healthcare, clean water, and education. safety (See Map 2: Phase 1). A few had some and coming to Kiryondongo. travelling to Uganda which they perceived to Following the closure of the reception centre advanced warnings, and were able to leave The majority of people, however, did not be safer. at Kiryondongo on 25 August, all new arrivals before the conflict got to them, but the vast come to Uganda, and instead sought are now being sent to Bidibidi Camp in majority were caught unawares. shelter in nearby villages, where they The escalation of conflict caught most Yumbe. Opened on 2 August, Bidibidi was hoped they would be safe until things by surprise, causing many people to be When the initial violence subsided, some designed to hold 100,000 people and intended calmed down. separated from their families before fleeing to people began leave their homes and head Uganda alone. Male focus group discussion to de-congest existing reception centres and either to Juba or Uganda for safety (Phase As of 31 August, insecurity continues across participants had commonly been working in settlements, which are now reaching capacity. 2). People living in and most of Greater Equatoria. Most primary different cities to their families. Most reported However, the camp is perceived much less northern first came to Juba routes towards Juba and the Ugandan border trying to return home upon the escalation of positively by refugees, who described it in before taking the Juba-Nimule highway south have been blocked by armed groups, largely violence, but quickly realised the risk of doing FGDs as unsafe and lacking in essential to the Elegu collection points in Uganda. Those preventing remaining populations from leaving so and fled to Uganda instead. Female focus services. Tensions with the host community coming from Yei travelled south to the Kaya their current locations. are perceived to be particularly challenging

2 4. Data from OPM and UNHCR. All figures current as of 28 August. Map 2: Displacement from areas of origin in Greater Equatoria to Kiryondongo Settlement

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Magwi Yei ria ! ato ! Equ entral ria C to qua Eastern E Displacement Phases !Kajo Keji !Pageri South Sudan South Sudan Uganda Moyo ! Uganda Nimule Phase 1: Escalation of con ict forces people from urban to surrounding Kaya Bidibidi ! rural areas. ! Ô ÔElegu

Phase 2: As ghting subsides, people head to the border via the Juba-Nimule road. People in Yei and Kajo Keji head straight to nearby border crossings. ÔOcea ÔRhino Camp

Phase 3: People attempt to cross the border to Uganda. Many are stopped by armed groups and are forced to turn back.

Phase 4: Once in Uganda, refugees are registered and travel south to Kiryondongo and other camps.

ÔKiryandongo

3 with a few participants stating that they Situation in Areas of Origin Figure 1: UNHCR buses transport refugees from Kiryondongo to Bidibidi Settlment in Yumbe would rather return to South Sudan than be relocated there. According to focus group discussion participants from urban areas, the majority of As Bidibidi remains the only settlement people in their areas of origin (between 70- currently open to receive new refugees, it 80% of the pre-crisis population) have fled to remains unclear whether new refugees will neighbouring villages and the bush. These continue to go there or start to head to other people reportedly abandoned their homes locations in Uganda. following harassment and random killings by Future Intentions armed groups and headed for neighbouring areas perceived as safer. Villages located Participants reported that Uganda was the near main roads, including Pageri and its preferred destination for people in their surrounding villages, have reportedly been community, with other neighbouring countries entirely abandoned due to harassment such as Ethiopia and Kenya considered and attacks by armed groups. too far away, and Congo considered to be insecure and undesirable because of the Exceptions to this include the town of Torit, language barrier. The mostly English and where most of the pre-crisis population Arabic speaking Equatorians explained reportedly remains in town, and Nimule, that they were unable to communicate with where the majority of the population has although women and the elderly are reportedly Shelter safely emigrated to Uganda. These towns able to leave. French-speaking Congolese. The majority of people remaining in their saw limited fighting compared to other areas, In remote villages, people are currently areas of origin are reportedly still living under Should restrictions on movement in and most of the danger in these areas is reported to be relatively safe, and some food some sort of shelter. Most of those living in Greater Equatoria lessen, a large influx reportedly in the villages, rather than the is available, though in restricted amounts. villages are reportedly not directly affected of refugees into Uganda from Central, towns. As a result, both have seen influxes of Access to other essential services, such by the conflict, and remaining populations in Western, and nearby parts of Eastern IDPs from other parts of the region. Equatoria is likely to follow. The large as healthcare, safe water, and education, rural areas are reportedly living in their own majority of refugees reported that missing Here, markets are open, and services remain is very limited, as most small communities homes, although some are sharing shelters family members would travel to join them available, although the economic crisis in lack such basic infrastructure. Very few with displaced people. IDPs from urban as soon as possible. They believed that the country has made them increasingly participants reported that people were living areas commonly sleep under trees or in others would try to come quickly, and that unaffordable. The lack of people in Nimule in the bush without support. More recent makeshift shelters until they can construct the only thing preventing them was a lack of has also limited the availability of services arrivals to the camp suggest that violence in their own rakoobas or tukuls. for those who remain. For those remaining in villages is increasing, raising concerns that access, due to ongoing security concerns, In urban areas, most homes are reported Torit and Nimule, leaving town is considered rural communities may become less safe in the presence of military, and the cost of to remain standing, though they have been highly dangerous as a result of armed groups. the near future, possibly resulting in further transportation. abandoned by their owners who have fled Participants reported that men had been displacement. to villages. In Nimule and Torit, where much killed as they attempted to return to Pageri of the town’s population is still there, people from Nimule to collect food and possessions, are living in permanent brick and mortar

4 4 structures, in addition to more traditional coping strategies in order to make food last five year average.8 Prices in Torit for the Livelihoods 9 structures like tukuls. longer. Participants indicated that most same goods were over 800% higher. Some Access to productive livelihoods for people were now eating one meal a day, participants from Yei noted that a few hotels Exceptions to this are the towns of Kajo-Keji, populations remaining in their areas of origin and in many cases, skipping days entirely owned by rich people had remained open, and Mundri, and Maridi, where so many houses is severely restricted, if not outright denied. in order to stretch available food. Many that these people were living off of their food have reportedly been burned down that the Markets are now inaccessible; blocked roads also reported eating the leaves of different stores. Public food stores that were reported to majority of the population are now living in prevent people from reaching the markets plants, such as cassava, after they had exist in Yei, Yambio, and Mundri were raided. collective centres such as churches or open safely, and in many places, such as Pageri, finished the roots. Possessions are sold or air in the bush. While most homes in Pageri Yei, and Lainya, people risk being killed if they traded for other food like beans. are still standing, the entire population is open their shops. Many major business men reported to have relocated to Nimule, where Problems with the general lack of food have were reportedly arrested and imprisoned in many are sleeping in Rakoobas. been compounded by climate change and Table 2: Reported living conditions of people remaining in areas of origin the conflict. Rising temperatures have led to Most communities are reportedly using Location where a shorter growing season, and many crops Beginning of Remaining mosquito nets, and describe them as most people are Level of Access did not grow as well as in previous years. conflict infrastructure a necessity for survival during the wet living The most recent IPC report notes that, while season. Most people are sleeping 1-2 not as bad as parts of Greater Upper Nile 9 July In homes in town Intact Restricted people per net, except for Yambio, where Juba region, most of The Greater Equatoria region 4-5 people are sharing. However, in some worsened from “stressed” to “crisis” between Kajo-Keji 9 July Remote villages Damaged Minimal communities, such as Lainya, Kajo-Keji, and April and July.6 Other reports show Lainya Maridi, it has been a long time since they 9 July Remote villages Destroyed Minimal to currently be in emergency, and the rest Lainya have received any new nets, and the ones of the assessed communities in Central that exist have begun to fall into disrepair. 9 July Abandoned Destroyed Minimal Equatorial to be in crisis.7 The same Magwi Very few NFI distributions have been carried reports expect these conditions to persist out in the Equatorias, and many in Western Before 8 July Remote villages Damaged Restricted through the end of the year. In addition, the Maridi Equatoria have not yet met their NFI loose presence of armed groups has prevented items goals.5 Most displaced people in rural Mundri Before 8 July Remote villages Damaged Minimal many from accessing their fields, where villages lost their nets when they abandoned crops have grown. Crops have been taken their homes. Nimule 18 July Left country Intact High by armed groups or eaten by animals. Some Access to Food participants lamented that many of their Pageri Unknown Abandoned Intact Minimal Participants reported that some supplies of crops are maturing right now, and they have food were available in their areas of origin, no way of safely harvesting them because of Torit 15 July In homes in town Intact Restricted particularly in villages, where populations insecurity. Those still remaining in town must Before 8 July Remote villages Damaged Restricted are less dependent on markets than those spend increasing amounts of money in order Yambio to contend with soaring prices. In July, prices residing in towns or cities. However, many 9 July Remote villages Intact Minimal reported needing to resort to a number of of maize, and sorghum in Juba markets Yei were reported to be 1000% higher than the

5. Shelter & NFI Cluster, South Sudan Response Crisis – NFI Distribution Coverage, July 2016 8. WFP, South Sudan market price monitoring bulletin, August 2016 5 6. IPC, IPC Alert Issue 5, June 2016. 9. Ibid. 7. FEWSNET, Below average harvests expected as insecurity restricts agricultural activity, August 2016 further from the main road. In others, farming the bush are reportedly still using them, though illness in most of the region.12 Cholera has Kajo-Keji town. must be practiced with care, as smoke can their usage has declined due to insecurity and also broken out in Nimule.13 With no drugs to In Nimule, Maridi, and Torit, where markets alert armed groups to their presence. These a lack of materials. The poor WASH situation, treat it, it is likely that mortality rates will rise still exist, prices have exploded. Recent armed groups have been known to steal all of coupled with the already undersized health significantly in the absence of humanitarian reports note that trade throughout the entire the food in the community. infrastructure, is likely to compound disease support; according to the same report, health Greater Equatoria region has been significantly as the wet season progresses. partners were only present in 3 counties (Mundri 10 Water and Sanitation disrupted or all trade activity had ceased. East, Juba, and Torit) in June 2016.13 Respondents reported prices as much as 750% Functioning WASH infrastructure is reportedly Health higher than before the current outbreak of present in all locations, but has been made Prior to the current conflict, most of the Education conflict. Several respondents reported having inaccessible by the conflict. Most towns had assessed towns had functioning health Access to education in most locations was to pay 80 SSP for a cup of flour. The inability to sufficient functioning boreholes, with the centres, though many lacked adequate drugs, reported to be limited to non-existent. In places transport goods to Juba to sell at higher prices exception of Lainya and Magwi, which were and their staff often went unpaid for months. where people were able to get advanced warning or import them from Uganda has caused most unable to provide for the entire population. In Many villages had smaller clinics or health of what was happening in Juba, children were markets to atrophy. Yei, a water treatment system provided water to centres in order to treat less serious cases, sent to the villages to live with relatives. With most of the town though a motorized tap stand and many business people had opened their the displacement of most of the populations In villages, most people report being able to system. In places with very few boreholes, like own clinics to supply drugs that hospitals from towns, schools have been shuttered due cultivate. Though in Pageri and Magwi, it has Torit, chlorine tablets were regularly distributed lacked.11 to a lack of either children or staff. Education in reportedly stopped due to the evacuation of to clean river water. rural villages was poor before the current crisis most of the population to Nimule and villages Health infrastructure across the assessed and access has only declined since then. Most Now, most of these services are inaccessible, locations has largely collapsed. Most health Figure 2: Church in Morobo, near Yei, October rural schools have reportedly been abandoned 2015. Churches like this have become refuges either due to insecurity, or a lack of resources, centres have closed, and clinics have been due to a lack of staff. for many displaces persons seeking shelter such as fuel or chlorine tablets. Villages lack looted by armed groups, denying any life- throughout Greater Equatoria. Photo Credit: the same water infrastructure as towns, and saving drugs for the community there, and In a few places, schools have reopened. Estelle Levoyer the few clean sources that exist are reportedly most of the remaining staff have fled into Education services are reportedly available in often over 30 minutes away, too far to be the bush. In Yei, armed groups have injured Kajo-Keji, Maridi, Torit, and Nimule, albeit with accessed safely or conveniently. Yei’s water and killed the staff of health facilities. Hospitals reduced staff and restricted hours; most children system has reportedly ceased operation due in Kajo-Keji, Yambio, and Mundri remain open, reportedly attend school for only three hours a to a lack of fuel. WASH services are reportedly but have only a few staff and limited capacity to day. School supplies are lacking, and children still functioning normally in Yambio, Mundri, treat illnesses. The only exceptions to this are reportedly lack textbooks, pens, paper, and Nimule and Torit. Nimule and Torit, where most health centres school lunches. Even before the current crisis, are still functioning, albeit on reduced staff due counties in Greater Equatoria had some of the Most people in towns, and many in villages, to some having fled. Humanitarian support has lowest number of people receiving education used latrines before the current crisis. Some allowed the clinic in Torit to stay stocked with services from NGOs.15 towns reportedly even charged people for necessary drugs. defecating outside. An exception to this was Torit, where cultural practices lead many The South Sudan Health Cluster notes that people to refuse to use latrines. Those hiding in malaria remains the most commonly reported

10. FEWSNET, South Sudan: Drastic food price increases further reduce household access, 12. Health Cluster, South Sudan Health Cluster Bulletin #2, August 2016 6 August 2016 13. UNMISS, South Sudan works towards containing recent cholera outbreak, August 2016 11. Many noted that these clinics were often operated by the same health workers working at the 14. Health Cluster, South Sudan Health Cluster Bulletin #2, August 2016 hospitals that had referred them. 15. South Sudan Education Cluster, Cumulative number of people reached up to June 2016 Table 3: Reported access to services for people remaining in areas of origin to safely leave. If road access to Uganda improves, large numbers of refugees are Minimal or no access Safety / Access to Access to Access to Access to Access to Access to likely to come across the border. security shelter food livelihoods water health care education Restricted or limited access The crisis in the Equatorias is still beginning; Juba Sufficient or minimally people have only recently been displaced, and humanitarian infrastructure is still able restricted access Kajo-Keji to comfortably handle current caseloads. all economic activity to collapse. Many people However, things may already be changing; Lainya with skills and investment capital have fled. between 26 and 28 of August, UNHCR Should access improve, humanitarians should Magwi registered 4,854 people entering Uganda be prepared to provide the resources and from the Kaya crossing near Yei.16 At the Miridi expertise in order to help re-establish services same time, only 20% of UNHCR’s requested until communities can recover. Healthcare 608.8 million from donors has been funded.17 Mundri remains a priority; with the wet season in full Should the situation worsen, and more swing, rates of disease such as cholera Nimule become desperate to leave South Sudan, and malaria are rising, while at the same donors need to be willing to fund humanitarian Pageri time, healthcare is being denied to most of actors in re-establishing key services in South the population. Sudan, and be prepared for a possible influx Torit In the villages, most people are able to stay into the settlements in Uganda. Yambio safe, but lack the important services available in towns. Few, if any rural health clinics are still About REACH Initiative Yei open. In addition, while food is available in most REACH facilitates the development places, stores have been severely strained of information tools and products that Conclusion villages nearby their former homes without due to the influx of people now sheltering in enhance the capacity of aid actors to access to sufficient food or other services. the countryside, and many families are now make evidence-based decisions in The outbreak of conflict across the Greater only eating one meal a day or less to stretch emergency, recovery and development In towns, most infrastructure for key services Equatoria region has led to wide-spread dwindling food stores. contexts. All REACH activities are like health, WASH, and education remain. displacement, both inside and outside of South conducted through inter-agency aid However, a lack of people and resources, The key problem for both civilians and Sudan. Motivated by the ability to restart their coordination mechanisms. livelihoods in a safe, secure environment, including adequate drugs, fuel for water humanitarians remains access; as of this systems and generators, or school supplies writing, nearly all major roads to the Ugandan For more information, you can write a substantial number of South Sudanese to our in-country office: southsudan@ refugees, nearly 100,000 as of the end of has caused them to atrophy. The economic border remained blocked, and anyone travelling crisis has made even the most basic goods risks encountering armed groups. However, reach-initiative.org or to our global office: August, have already crossed the border into [email protected]. Uganda. However, the vast majority are still unaffordable, and the inability of people to most of the participants in focus groups insist Visit www.reach-initiative.org and in South Sudan, hiding in the bush and travel to markets, even those in their own most people wish come to Uganda, and the towns without fear of death has caused nearly only thing holding them back is their inability follow us @REACH_info.

16. UNHCR, Emergency update on the South Sudan refugee situation, inter-agency daily #33, 7 August 2016 17. UNHCR, South Sudan Situation: Regional Emergency Update, August 2016