Facilitated returns from Melut to Baliet, Upper Nile region

Following the political and resulting security crisis which erupted in the country in December 2013, Upper Nile became one of the most affected areas with hundreds of thousands of people displaced across the region. Currently there are an estimated 364,357 IDPs (including close to 30,000 IDPs in Malakal PoC) in Upper Nile. Given the relative peace within the region following the revitalised peace agreement signed in 2018 between the South Sudan Government and the main opposition groups, the region is experiencing a spontaneous return of refugees from neighbouring countries and IDPs in various locations intending to voluntarily return to their areas of origin. In recent months, IDPs in Melut displaced mainly from Baliet County, expressed their interest to return to their homes of origin.

UNHCR conducted surveys and verification exercises to ascertain the intentions and number of people who intend to return to respective locations. Following the survey and the verification exercise, UNHCR and partners, in close collaboration with Solutions Working Group, supported the return of the IDPs to Baliet, Adong and Riangnom. The return exercise was conducted between 7 and 28 May 2019, spearheaded the Upper Nile Solutions Working Group led by the Protection Cluster. A total of 3,324 IDPs benefited from this facilitated return from Melut to Baliet County.