Record Returnees Reach Eastern Equatoria
In just ten days, 2,225 people crossed the border from Kenya to South Sudan, according to the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Torit. The influx comes on top of roughly 4,000 arrivals registered since July, stretching the state’s modest services.
Why Families Are Leaving Kakuma
Interviews with returnees point to rising living costs in Kakuma and a renewed confidence in security back home. “We felt it was time to rebuild on our own soil,” said Nyandeng Lado, who travelled with her three children after eight years in the camp.
Demographics and Destinations
Torit County alone absorbed 1,367 individuals representing 365 households. Smaller numbers settled in Kapoeta South, Budi, Kapoeta East and Kapoeta North. Local officials say arrivals include women, children and elderly people needing specialised care.
Immediate Needs: Shelter, Seeds, Hope
State deputy RRC chair Khadija Clement listed tents, agricultural tools and drought-resistant seeds as urgent priorities. She noted that many families returned just before the planting window and risk missing a crucial farming season without swift support.
Aid Agencies Urged to Re-Engage
Several international NGOs relocated their Eastern Equatoria offices to Juba amid earlier insecurity. “We ask our partners to come back and stand with these citizens,” Clement told a humanitarian cluster meeting, highlighting the state’s limited budget for social services.
Regional Significance of the Trend
Analysts see the exodus from Kakuma as a barometer of cautious optimism in South Sudan’s peace efforts. However, success will depend on sustained investment in livelihoods, education and health, preventing secondary displacement and fostering durable stability across the region.