Fresh Violence Uproots Communities
Recent clashes between the SPLA-IO and the SSPDF in Marju sub-Boma drove more than 1,000 residents from their homes, county officials report.
Families fled east toward Pokula, a farming hub 22 miles from Yei town, seeking safety in schools, churches and open fields.
Immediate Needs: Food, Shelter, Schools
Commissioner Emmanuel Taban Seme observed children, pregnant women and older people sleeping without mats or mosquito nets, lacking food, medicine and classrooms.
He appealed to local households and aid groups for tarpaulins and cereals, warning that rains could deepen suffering if assistance stalls.
Local Voices Call for Swift Response
“This is a painful situation that requires an urgent humanitarian response,” Taban told reporters after touring Pokula Primary School.
Displaced farmer Mary Jada said she left her harvest uncollected: “We escaped gunfire with only the clothes we wear; we need seeds and tools when peace returns.”
Security Forces Promise Stability
SSPDF commander Joseph Garang assured residents that patrols had been reinforced and dialogue channels with SPLA-IO commanders remain open.
“We urge families to hold onto faith because every suffering has an end,” Garang stated, echoing church leaders’ calls for calm.
Economic Ripples Across Yei
Many displaced households abandoned sorghum fields and livestock, shrinking supplies in local markets already strained by high transport costs.
Traders in Yei town report price hikes on maize and cooking oil since July 2025, citing the sudden population influx from Pokula.
Prospects for Coordinated Relief
County authorities are compiling household lists to present to international partners, while civil society urges a joint assessment before the next planting season.
Observers say timely intervention could prevent secondary displacement and help families rebuild livelihoods once security stabilises.