Insecurity brings IDP concentration in Awoda

In Bahr al-Ghazal, an upsurge in insecurity as a result of an offensive by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in May/June had led to the displacement of over 10,000 people from Abulu, Daym Zubayr, Sopo, Besilia and Raga into Awoda payam (sub-county area), with more expected as a result of the peace prevailing there, USAID’s Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) reported in its southern Sudan update, released on Monday. The internally displaced people (IDPs), including 5,350 from Daym Zubayr and more than 4,600 from Abulu, planned to settle in Awoda until the security situation settled in their home area, it said. Poorer IDPs were living on relief food and wild plants as well as minimal grain supplies from petty trade or relations.

In Lakes region, some 10,000 IDPs from Western Upper Nile had settled in Yirol County and 5,000 in Rumbek County, and they had cultivated after being given seeds, tools and access to land, the report said. These people had options to work, particularly in Rumbek town, and their food security situation was generally reasonable, although they would need support until harvest, it said. Rapid assessment had also confirmed an improving food security situation for the resident population in Yirol and Rumbek counties, FEWS added.