Situation Report: Malakal Conflict Induced Displacement due to violent clashes in Malakal PoC (as of 23 June 2023)

This update is produced by OCHA South Sudan in collaboration with humanitarian partners.

HIGHLIGHTS

• On the 8th of June, violence erupted atthe UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) Site in Malakal.

• The situation remains fluid with an outbreak of violence in the PoC on June 20th causing further distress.

• Mobile teams are responding to people in their sites of displacement with health and nutrition support, while fixed services are being expanded for better access.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

On the morning of June 8th, violent clashes broke out in the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) Site in Malakal, triggered by a stabbing incident involving a young boy. This incident is believed to be a retaliatory act following a previous killing within the PoC the week before. All humanitarian personnel in the hub are safe, and most national staff working for the UN and NGOs in Malakal, who reside in the PoC, remain unharmed.

On June 20th, a male resident of the Malakal PoC site used a weapon he had within the site while intoxicated, injuring two others. Panic ensued, with several hundred individuals fleeing the site around the hub. Within an hour, the situation was defused, and the two injured were taken to an NGO health facility for treatment.

On 22nd June, 6 men armed with machetes and other weapons breached the perimeter of the UNMISS compound in Malakal. UNDSS and UNMISS analyzed that the motive behind this breach was robbery.

The security alert status for both the PoC and Malakal town remains at GREY, and some families who had previously moved out of the PoC site and into the humanitarian hub have now returned to the PoC. Malakal is in a fragile humanitarian situation due to successive episodes of violence that led to displacements and extremely crowded conditions in the PoC.

Malakal is also a primary destination for newly arriving returnees due to the Sudan conflict, with around 25,000 expected to arrive and remain in Malakal, including individuals from Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, according to IOM/UNHCR intention survey data collected at points of entry. IOM/UNHCR reports that a considerable population of registered returnees intends to move towards Malakal from Renk in the coming days. Protection teams across Upper Nile State have also reported that more returnees have arrived in Panyikang, Fashoda, Nasir, Manyo, Ulang, and Melut counties.

The local humanitarian community has been in dialogue with the community leadership and youth leadership to create a safe return environment. The safety concerns of those around the hub must be considered, and returning to the PoC may not be the solution for all, the focus should be on addressing the concerns of this group before discussing the immediate situation in Malakal Town.

Humanitarian teams are providing services to individuals affected by the recent violence. However, there are concerns regarding sanitation issues that have been observed in church compounds and around the humanitarian hub, where many displaced individuals have taken shelter, which increases the risk of disease outbreaks like cholera. To address this issue, mobile teams are providing assistance to those who have been displaced in these areas. Furthermore, humanitarian services have resumed for those who remain in the PoC site, and the market in the PoC is now open. In Malakal, where possible, mobile teams are responding to individuals in their displacement sites, providing health and nutrition support, and expanding existing services to ensure their access. For those around the humanitarian hub, dedicated and adjusted distribution efforts have taken place.

As of 23 June 2023, approximately 37,000 people remain in Malakal PoC. From the DRC headcount, a total of 78 people (17 households) remain in the buffer zone near the humanitarian hub perimeter. Over 6,000 people reportedly moved to Malakal town.