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With funding from BHA, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) completed a rapid protection assessment in Lainya center payam, Lainya County from the 23rd-25th March, 2022. The assessment was a follow-on mission from a Rapid Inter-Agency assessment coordinated by UNOCHA on 23rd February, 2022 in response to reports of the presence of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Lainya Center. During the assessment, DRC was not granted permission to move outside of Lainya Centre and was unable to visit some of the affected locations.
The assessment was conducted using focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs) and direct observations. Random and purposive sampling were used to identify assessment participants. The assessment was conducted by a multi-sectoral team of Protection and Shelter and Nonfood items(SNFI) staff. A total of 20 FGDs and 12 KIIs were conducted with 160 individuals including 71 female and 89 male respondents reached respectively. Assessment participants included IDPs, host community members, returnees, community leaders, women leaders, persons with disabilities, religious leaders and local authorities.
Preventive measures for COVID-19 were adhered to throughout the assessment and DRC is planning for an integrated SNFI and Protection response.
- DISPLACEMENT CONTEXT
Lainya Centre has hosted IDPsfrom both with Lainya Centre payam as well as from areas in the wider Lainya County, with IDPs affected by three main cycles of displacement as identified by respondents. Some IDPs reported that they have experienced multiple cycles of displacement.
The first wave of displacement occurred in December 2016 following clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Lainya County.
Some IDPs reported that they displaced to Uganda and Juba in 2016 and later returned to their areas of origin in 2018 following the signing of the revitalized peace agreement.
The second cycle of displacement was reported to have occurred in January 2021 following armed clashes between cattle herders believed to be from the Mundari community in Juba and Terekeka respectively.
Tensions between the communities in Lainya and Dinka Bor cattle keepers were also reported.
The most recent displacement was reported to have occurred between January and February 2022 following clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the National Salvation Army (NAS).
The population of the IDPs displaced to Lainya Centre between January to February 2022 was reported to 813 households or 3,914 individuals.
For IDPs displaced in 2022, they stated that they displaced from various areas in Lainya such as Lokurubang, Loka round, Loka West, Nyapuru,
Gumbiri, Jebelen, Rijongu, Lokirreriat, Konkat, Wate, Bereka, Langude,
Nyagele, Longera, Bibe, Kuturjo, Lugoi, Lankoda and Manjuba. IDPs are currently settled in many villages of Lainya center payam such as Munuki I, II and III, Gabat I, II and III, Hai mission, Hai jebel, Morta, Rudu, Lainya primary school area (Buyo), Payam area and Lukomirot. It was reported some IDPs displaced in 2022 have displaced to Uganda, Juba and Yei, with the route to Yei identified as higher risk for IDPs due to the reports of insecurity along the road. DRC was unable to establish clear figures for the IDPs who displaced outside of Lainya County.
Assessment respondents who were displaced in January and February 2022 stated that they were first sheltered at Lainya Vocational Training Institute (LVTI), Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) Cathedral and Lainya Primary school. IDPs reported that they later decided to integrate in to the host community and move into unoccupied houses (occupants have displaced outside of the area). Some IDP participants staying in unoccupied shelters reported that they have been forced to relocate several times, relocating when the owner of the shelter they are staying in has returned.
Most respondents stated that they walked on foot to Lainya center, while a few others used bicycles. The journey took one to two (1-2) days to reach Lainya center depending on the different displacement locations.
Most respondents reported that they survived on raw mangoes throughout the journey to Lainya center. DRC did not receive any reports of specific safety and security concerns experienced by IDPs during the displacement journey.
Respondents reported that they chose Lainya center as their displacement location because of its central location and ease of access to travel to other locations such as Uganda and Juba in the event of a further escalation in the security situation. Others stated that they chose Lainya center because of the presence of their relatives in Lainya center with whom they can easily be accommodated. While a few others stated that there is perceived safety in Lainya center due to the presence of the government soldiers. However, some respondents advised that they were advised by members of government security forces in early February 2022 to relocate from their area of origin (see safety and security section for further details).
Most IDPs interviewed during the assessment stated that they do not currently plan to return to their areas of displacement citing lack of peace in their area of origin. Some respondents mentioned that movement restrictions imposed by government security organs and fears regarding potential attack from government security organs and cattle keepers remains a barrier to return to their original locations of displacement.
The IDP relationship with the host community was reported to be good.
Multiple respondents especially among the IDPs reported that they shared the limited shelters, food items, jerricans, saucepans, plates, including sharing the water sources and health facilities peacefully.