South Sudan - Following intensive negotiations to gain access to conflict-affected areas in Jonglei State, aid organizations are now able to reach parts of Pibor County. 

Clashes between government forces and non-state armed actors, as well as renewed inter-communal violence, have emptied towns and displaced thousands of households who are now seeking refuge in unknown locations or areas that are difficult to access due to a combination of insecurity and roads made impassable by heavy rains.

IOM is currently leading the registration of people displaced by conflict (IDPs) in remote areas of Pibor County. Aid agencies need this registration to verify the full scale of displacement and identify vulnerable families scattered in remote areas, who are likely to be in urgent need of assistance.

IOM’s Displacement Tracking and Monitoring (DTM) unit is working in close collaboration with local communities and aid organizations to gather baseline information on the displaced population. Information gathered includes demographic data such as age and sex, place of origin.

The registration exercise is complemented by rapid interviews to gain an understanding of intentions for further movement and basic information on coping mechanisms used by the displaced population.

The registration activities are being carried out in close partnership with protection partners, who need to identify separated and unaccompanied children, of whom there were many in this wave of displacement. The data gathered is being shared with the humanitarian community to contribute to more efficient delivery of aid, including emergency healthcare, food and non-food relief items.

The registration exercise has now been completed in Dorien, where 2,948 households were identified. Registered families will receive plastic sheets, blankets, and mosquito nets supplied by IOM, in addition to food, soap, buckets and jerry cans, all of which must be flown in by helicopter.

A second exercise is ongoing in Labrab, where more than 2,000 households have already been registered and more are expected to arrive in the coming days from nearby areas. Food distributions are currently being carried out in Labrab based on registration data gathered by the DTM team. Once the registration is completed, IOM will begin distribution of essential non-food items such as blankets, mosquito nets and plastic sheets.

IOM is also working in coordination with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to provide displaced households with emergency livelihood kits, including fishing gear, hooks and twine, as most displaced households are temporarily located along the river.

“This information is essential in understanding the on-going humanitarian situation in Jonglei,” says Laura Nistri, IOM’s DTM programme manager. “These details will help aid agencies to develop more targeted responses to ensure that the most urgent needs of the vulnerable are addressed,” she added.

In the following weeks, partners are looking to expand the emergency response to other affected areas, including Gumuruk, where an estimated 15,000 people are reported to be in need of urgent assistance.

For more information, please contact

Matthew Graydon
IOM Juba
Tel: +21192212319
Email: mgraydon@iom.int