Attachments
Originally established in 1997 to receive refugees fleeing the Second Sudanese Civil War, Maaji settlement II and III were re-opened in 2015 to host new refugee arrivals from South Sudan. While the settlement is no longer receiving new arrivals, humanitarian partners continue to support efforts to improve standards and services for refugees and host community alike.
Gaps and Challenges
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Insufficient permanent health facilities and lack of an outreach unit leave facilities crowded and health services overstretched.
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Refugees’ inadequate access to land, lack of agricultural skills, and inadequate vocational training limit food suffiency, livelihoods, and self-reliance.
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Poor road networks into and within the settlement pose logistical challenges that impact the timeliness and cost of activities.
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Insufficient non-food item provisions and the sale of NFIs as a coping mechanism has reportedly left refugees without sufficient mosquito netting, clothing, soap and hygiene kits.
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Borehole water is frequently contaminated with particles and worms and during the dry season cannot be pumped from the low water table.
Strengths & Opportunities
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Strong refugee leadership through the Refugee Welfare Committees has taken responsibility for parts of the response and connected UNHCR and partners directly to beneficiaries.
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Peaceful coexistence and positive host community-refugee relations contribute towards a sustainable response and integration of social service delivery with local government systems.
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Demand for agricultural products is sufficient enough to support livelihoods in Maaji if access to land and agricultural skills development for refugees are improved.