By James Innocent
The Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in Yei River County said it has registered more than 200 returnees arriving from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as authorities and partners are being urged to strengthen support for returnees and internally displaced people.
Maba Moses, an RRC official, said the commission had registered the returnees and called on humanitarian and development partners to provide livelihood assistance and other essential services based on the needs of affected communities.
He also urged the government and partners to maintain support for communities in Yei to help reduce hardship among vulnerable households.
Moses said many people in Yei depend on agriculture for their livelihoods and called for increased provision of farming tools and other agricultural inputs as the second planting season gets underway.
He was speaking during an Area Reference Group meeting held at the Yei River County Secretariat.
Meanwhile, Asiki Moses, Director of the County Department of Agriculture, said crop production during the first agricultural season had been affected by prolonged dry conditions.
He said several crops had dried because of extended periods of intense heat, raising concerns over food production and household livelihoods.
The county agriculture department has also encouraged livelihood partners to prioritise and promote locally produced seeds as part of efforts to strengthen agricultural production and reduce dependence on external seed sources.
For farmers, however, access to basic agricultural inputs remains a major challenge.
Juma Joseph, a local farmer who recently returned from Uganda, said many returnees and other farmers lack essential tools and seeds needed to increase food production.
He said sustained peace in Yei could encourage more South Sudanese refugees in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to return home and rebuild their livelihoods through agriculture.
The meeting brought together county authorities and partners to discuss humanitarian, recovery, and development priorities affecting communities in Yei River County.