6.1 Unity State
From September 2023 to September 2024, partners consulted communities across 10 payams in Guit, Koch, Leer, Mayiendit, Mayom and Rubkona counties. In recent years, Unity State has seen an increased number of returnees due to the conflict in Sudan and flood-induced displacement since 2019. In Bentiu, floods have aggravated food insecurity, leading to loss of livelihoods and erosion of coping mechanisms. Theft, extortion and harassment at checkpoints along roads and rivers further undermine trade, causing food prices to escalate. Insecurity, flooding, weak governance and poor road infrastructure have also restricted livelihood opportunities, preventing IDPs and returnees from finding durable solutions.
Communities noted food security as a top priority, as insecurity aggravated by a lack of food and restricted livelihoods prevent people from returning. They also expressed the need to produce their own food and called for the timely distribution of seeds, agricultural tools and equipment, fishing kits, canoes and beekeeping kits. In Guit Town, community members proposed using the existing 33 community groups to create cooperatives focusing on agriculture, fishing, health and sanitation projects. In Bentiu, they also suggested creating ‘chinampas’, where soil is piled to provide a raised bed for planting. Food security was also closely linked with income-generating activities. In Tharwangyiella village, fishermen lamented about the poor state of roads, which hindered access to markets.
Communities ranked health as a major priority, as health facilities are inadequate or non-existent, lacking medical supplies and trained health care professionals. In Barkor and Norkur payams of Mayom County, measles, diarrhoea, malaria and skin diseases are common but a mobile health clinic visits only twice a month. Due to a lack of WASH facilities and hygiene, their source of drinking water is the nearby river – contaminated and unsafe, heightening the risk of waterborne diseases. Barkor and Norkur are usually inaccessible during the rainy season. In Guit Town, where there are high rates of miscarriage, there is a lack of maternal health care facilities and equipment for midwives. Across the state, participants emphasized the need for clean water facilities, boreholes and sanitation. In Bang boma, there is only one borehole, which is a source of conflict in the community. For female participants in this boma, safe drinking water was their number one priority.
Communities expressed a need for more (and closer) schools, particularly where there was a higher number of children and returnees. Measures should include the rehabilitation of existing structures, trained teachers and provision of educational materials (e.g., textbooks, notebooks and school uniforms). In Rubkuay payam of Mayendit, the second most important community priority was shelter, where the community needed more houses and plastic sheets.
In Leer County, insecurity was ranked high among community priorities. In Adok, it was mentioned as the first priority for both male and female community members, while it was third for both men and women in Nyangdier. Insecurity has hindered livelihood activities, prevented children from attending school and led to serious protection concerns such as sexual assault, abduction and sexual slavery of women and girls. Women in the Bentiu IDP camp identified security as their number one priority, citing their lack of trust in state and local authorities to address issues. Women explained how the small gardens they cultivated were forcibly harvested by others, and local authorities failed to act despite being alerted.
6.2 Upper Nile State
From December 2023 to October 2024, consultations with communities were conducted in five payams in Malakal, Fashoda, Baliet, Nasir and Panyikang.
Livelihood was the number one priority across Upper Nile, particularly in Malakal County’s Protection of Civilians (PoC) site and Fahsoda County’s Kodok payam. Across the state, communities wanted livelihood opportunities to grow and procure their own food. However, the increasing number of returnees from Sudan has made accessing food and employment opportunities more difficult. Communities called for land for farming, timely distribution of seeds, tools, machinery, pesticides and training. In several communities, men expressed interest in masonry, bricklaying, electrical work and tailoring. Women wanted to form a women’s association as a tool for capacity-building and advocacy and welcomed finance to start small businesses. The youth also expressed interest in income-generating activities and training in mechanics, carpentry and tailoring.
In one of the community engagement exercises in Malakal, two women’s groups ranked security above livelihoods and job opportunities. All groups described issues of ethnic tension, which extended to land and property issues. Some mentioned fear of revenge attacks when leaving for Malakal town. Insecurity inside the PoC site was of particular concern to women and youth, especially at night. In the medium-long term, the community expressed their wish for strengthened security, disarmament of civilians and community dialogue.
Education was the top priority for the youth in both the Malakal PoC and Kodok. In the latter, they wanted more primary and secondary schools and a university in Fashoda. They highlighted the need for materials to build schools, teachers and training for teachers, incentives, education supplies, fencing of school compounds and means of transport to/from schools. In Baliet town, education facilities were vandalized during the 2013 and 2016 intercommunal conflict. Community members explained that there are eight primary schools in seven payams and one secondary school in the entire county. The youth in Malakal asked for recreational activities (e.g., sports, music, soccer and drama) as their third priority, including the construction of a youth centre.
In Kodok, many health facilities were destroyed during the previous conflict. As a result, the community said there are not enough facilities to cater for the needs of the growing population. The high rates of returnees from Ethiopia and Sudan to Nasir have put pressure on health facilities and medical supplies. Malaria remains a concern, particularly with the lack of antimalarial medicine. Male members and the youth requested latrines and a water system. The youth also requested water storage facilities, solar systems to pump water, and dams and boreholes in areas outside of town. Both groups offered to provide labour to construct the latrines and water system.
Due to flooding and conflict, some community members in Owechi payam relocated to higher grounds without materials for shelter. They noted the need for shelter materials such as plastic sheets, willing to help with construction if the material was provided. The youth also offered to provide the necessary labour to renovate community houses that were destroyed by conflict.
6.3 JONGLEI STATE AND GREATER PIBOR ADMIINISTRATIVE AREA (GPAA)
OCHA and partners carried out consultations in 16 payams in Bor South, Akobo, Ayod, Fangak, Nyirol, Pibor, Boma and Pochalla counties in Jonglei State/GPAA. Food security was the top priority. There were some requests for short-term food aid, but community members wanted land to farm, seeds, fishing equipment, canoes, training and animal restocking.
In two payams in Bor South, the lack of roads prevents farmers from trading and creates insecurity. In Boma County, roads are blocked due to intercommunal tension, with communities calling on the Government to foster peace with neighbours.
People rely on local pharmacies or traditional remedies due to a lack of functional health facilities and personnel and a severe lack of medical supplies. Disease is prevalent, including malaria. In Pochalla, mobile health clinics for hard-to-reach areas were suggested as a short-term solution. People called for the construction and rehabilitation of schools. In Bor South, school fees were too expensive, and people wanted school feeding programmes and incentives for teachers. In Anyidi payam, community leaders suggested that hunger, lack of vocational skills and high expectations of dowries were contributing factors to GBV.
In Pibor’s Kavachoch payam, the community has established water management committees and has pump mechanics, but not the tools to repair the non-functional boreholes. The lack of adequate boreholes can lead to community tension. In Bilkey, Akobo, there is a shortage of latrines due to unstable soil. In Pibor, people highlighted the need for shelter materials to cope with flooding.
Community members across all counties highlighted the issue of flooding and/or drought in relation to food insecurity, displacement and loss of shelter. In Fangak County, villages, pasture and farms have been inundated for years. Communities have had to rely on airdropped aid, which has often landed in swamps. Some called for incentives to build dykes in Dengjok. In Dengjok, Akobo and Old Fangak, there was a call for the Government to provide awareness-raising on flood mitigation and early warning, while communities in Paguir suggested the introduction of flood-resistant crops. In Ayod, community members considered opportunities to relocate to higher ground.
Across all is the desire for peace within and between communities. In one site in Pibor, the youth acknowledged that they are often involved in ‘age-set fighting’ and carrying out cattle raiding, stealing, killing and GBV. They said they would engage in productive activities but need training and capital. In Thol payam of Jonglei, members explained that the failure of the Government to provide security was enabling cattle raiding, revenge killings and abduction of women and children. In Ayod, women called for a judicial system for criminal acts and proposed a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for long-term peace. In Boma County, some suggested intermarriage with neighbours to promote peace, while intercommunal dialogue was urged in Pochalla to address insecurity and child abductions.