South Sudan Red Cross distributes critical Aid to returnees fleeing border tension

By Wek Atak Kacjang

The South Sudan Red Cross Society, in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross, is distributing emergency assistance to thousands of South Sudanese returnees arriving in Kajo-Keji County after fleeing refugee camps and border areas in neighboring Uganda.

The humanitarian response is targeting 2,600 households, representing thousands of vulnerable people returning amid heightened tensions over disputed border areas and ahead of South Sudan’s upcoming elections.

Many returnees are moving back to Liwolo Payam to reclaim and cultivate their ancestral land after spending time in Uganda.

Joseph Lukak, head of the South Sudan Red Cross Juba Branch, said aid distributions have been completed in Mangalatore, Kerewa and Sokare, while distribution is ongoing in Mangalore.

The assistance includes essential relief items, while humanitarian teams are also working to address critical needs in the affected communities.

South Sudan Red Cross and ICRC teams are repairing damaged water boreholes in displacement areas and providing protection and family-links services. The organizations are also offering free mobile phone airtime to help separated family members reconnect across borders.

However, beneficiaries and community leaders said the assistance does not always correspond to household sizes. They said fixed allocations per household leave larger families without adequate shelter materials and other essential supplies.

“Sometimes you have a family of 14 people, but you get one carpet. It is not enough for us,” one beneficiary said, calling on aid agencies to base distributions on verified household sizes.

Local leaders welcomed the assistance, saying poor road conditions had contributed to delays in delivering relief supplies.

Justin Kenyi Peter, speaking on behalf of the community, thanked the South Sudan Red Cross, ICRC, humanitarian organizations, donors and volunteers for supporting vulnerable families.

“This support comes at a very important time and will make a meaningful difference in the lives of many families, especially vulnerable children, women, elderly people and those facing difficult circumstances,” Peter said.

Community leaders also urged humanitarian agencies to maintain continuous registration of returnees to ensure newly arriving households are included in future assistance.

The South Sudan Red Cross and ICRC are expected to continue the emergency response as more returnees arrive in Kajo-Keji.