By Yiep Joseph
Humanitarian assistance is reaching thousands of South Sudanese returnees in Kajo-Keji County, where families arriving from refugee camps and border areas in neighbouring Uganda face an urgent need for shelter, food, water and other basic supplies.
The South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC) Juba Branch, working with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has launched an emergency response targeting 2,600 households across several locations in the county.
Joseph Lukak, Head of Branch for SSRC Juba, said aid distributions have already been completed in Mangalatore, Keriwa and Sokare, while teams are currently distributing assistance in Mangalatee.
The returnees have been arriving amid heightened tensions over disputed border areas and ahead of South Sudan’s upcoming elections.
Many displaced households are returning to reclaim ancestral land and resume farming, particularly in Liwolo Payam.
However, beneficiaries say the assistance provided does not always reflect the size of their families.
Lokule Chaplain, a beneficiary and camp manager in Logo, said households with large numbers of family members are struggling because relief items are often distributed at a flat rate rather than according to verified household size.
“Sometimes you have a family of 14 people, but you get one carpet. It is not enough for us,” Lokule said.
He called on humanitarian agencies to review distribution ratios and consider household size when allocating shelter and other essential items.
Beyond the distribution of relief supplies, SSRC and ICRC teams are also working to restore essential services in areas hosting returnees.
Teams are repairing damaged water boreholes and providing protection and family-links services to help separated relatives reconnect.
The family-links programme includes support such as free mobile phone airtime, allowing people separated by displacement and cross-border movement to communicate with relatives.
Community leaders have welcomed the assistance, saying it has provided much-needed relief following lengthy logistical delays caused by poor road conditions.
Justin Kenyi Peter, speaking on behalf of the community, expressed appreciation to humanitarian organisations, donors, volunteers and other partners supporting the response.
He said the assistance was particularly important for vulnerable children, women and older people, describing the support as a source of both food and hope for families facing difficult circumstances.
Despite the ongoing response, local leaders are calling for humanitarian agencies to maintain continuous registration of new arrivals so that households arriving after initial assessments are not left without assistance.
As more South Sudanese return from neighbouring Uganda, humanitarian agencies face the challenge of meeting immediate needs while supporting communities preparing for longer-term recovery and resettlement.
For residents, the priority remains clear: ensuring that aid reaches every household in quantities that reflect the realities of life on the ground.