UNMISS Evaluates Humanitarian Needs in Kajo-Keji

(KAJO-KEJI COUNTY) – The Commissioner of Kajo-Keji County, Hon. Wani Jackson Mule, on Wednesday received a humanitarian assessment team from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) at his office in Mere, following recent border clashes between South Sudan and Uganda.

Hon. Mule told the visiting delegation that the July 28th incursion by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) into South Sudanese territory was a deliberate and prearranged attack.

He explained that the incident occurred while Kajo-Keji County officials were preparing for a scheduled cross border dialogue with the leadership of Yumbe District in Uganda. The talks were aimed at easing tensions and improving cooperation along the shared border.

The Commissioner warned that the local humanitarian situation has become increasingly severe, with thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs), mostly women, children and the elderly now seeking refuge across six temporary settlement locations in Liwolo and Kangapo II Payams. He called on national and international partners to provide urgent humanitarian support, including food, clean water, shelter materials, clothing and medical supplies.

He further confirmed that the security situation in the border areas remains fragile, and that the national government in Juba is continuing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tensions with Uganda.

Representing humanitarian agencies, Mr. Likambo Richard Arike, a project officer with the Support for Peace and Education Development Programme (SPEDP), shared key findings from a recent assessment conducted under the Reconciliation, Stabilization and Resilience Trust Fund (RSRTF). The report found that 2,673 households, an estimated 16,038 individuals, were displaced due to the clashes. The data also showed that each displacement site is hosting between 2,000 to over 7,400 people.

Mr. Arike said that humanitarian agencies are struggling to respond promptly because of high demand and limited emergency funding. He stressed that immediate international assistance is necessary to meet basic survival needs.

The UNMISS assessment mission was conducted to gather firsthand information about the effects of the border violence, to evaluate the humanitarian conditions of the affected population and to examine the overall security environment in Kajo-Keji County. The findings are expected to inform responses by aid organisations and development partners working in South Sudan’s border regions.