South Sudan Crisis.pdf

2.4 million people are currently displaced out of South Sudan, with the vast majority being women and children.
Displacement is not new to South Sudanese, with many having experienced multiple displacements due to war, inhospitable landscapes, and semi-nomadic livelihoods.
National boundaries have minimal influence on historical movements, with tribal affinity, trade routes, and ecological continuity playing a greater role.
Humanitarian responses face challenges due to poor preparedness, under-funding, and porous borders.

Demographics and Movement Patterns

Women and children make up the majority of cross-border movements, with 91% of recorded movements in Renk, 85% in Nimule and Kapoeta, and 80% in Akobo.
Refugee sites in Uganda and Kenya also show a majority of women and children, with 86% in Palorinya and 82% in Kakuma and Kalobayei.
Displaced South Sudanese tend to follow routes with historic and cultural familiarity, but may end up in places of refuge far from home due to conflict.

Push and Pull Factors

Deteriorating conditions at home and difficult conditions in locations of refuge make it challenging to identify definitive push and pull factors.
Traditional migration patterns should not be confused with forced displacement, as many landscapes are favorable to nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyles.
Disputes over rights to resettle, either due to traditional territorial holdings or international borders, can lead to trouble.

Data Collection and Methodology

Qualitative assessments were conducted through Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant interviews, and general observation in Uganda and Kenya.
Port and road monitoring was conducted in South Sudan, with standardized surveys revealing push and pull factors, intentions, and movement history.
* Additional Key Informant interviews were conducted using REACH's Area of Knowledge methodology, with most participants being newly arrived to Protection of Civilians and Internally Displaced Persons collection sites.