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Report by: Alnaeim Mubarak Kuol
Lakes State has welcomed thousands of people fleeing from Panyijar County in Unity State who lost their homes and livelihoods due to severe flooding, as well as returnees and refugees from Sudan seeking safety from the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.
The displaced, mostly women, children, and people with disabilities, urgently require protection and support to facilitate their reintegration into local communities.
To address these pressing needs, the Lakes State Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, in partnership with the Protection, Transition, and Reintegration Unit of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), organized a workshop to advance the implementation of the Return and Reintegration Action Plan for Lakes State.
A key outcome of the workshop was the establishment of a State Task Force focusing on solutions, in line with the Revitalized Peace Agreement to achieve durable solutions for displacement.
Bub A.M. Wutchok, Chairperson of the State Rehabilitation Commission, stated, “This workshop is an important step in addressing the main challenges, especially those related to data collection and sharing. Accurate data is essential for prioritizing projects and securing the necessary funding to support vulnerable communities.”
The workshop also served as a platform to share vital aspects of the South Sudan Action Plan on Returns, Reintegration, and Recovery (2024-2028), identify actionable priorities for durable solutions, and develop a roadmap.
The workshop was attended by 63 participants, including government officials, civil society representatives, women’s groups, and NGOs. The sessions emphasized the importance of data collection efforts to tackle obstacles to peace, recovery, and development.
Christopher Murenga, Head of the UNMISS Rumbek Field Office, emphasized, “It is important for the government to lead these efforts by creating an environment for effective collaboration, ensuring that communities can rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.”
Through enhanced coordination, the goal of the workshop was to create sustainable pathways for displaced people to contribute to long-term peace and stability in Lakes State.
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