Some 8,000 displaced persons have now returned home in the Lankien area to resume their normal lives, even as new challenges stand in their way.

“A lot of the people who are returning from Akobo, Ethiopia, Kenya and other parts of the country, do not have their Tukul, places to live; some don’t have water, food,” said Governor Simon Hoth Duol. “I urge the humanitarian agencies to help reach the people with their needs,” he noted, adding that over 8,220 displaced persons had come back home in the opposition Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-iO)-controlled area.

Governor Hoth was speaking after holding discussions with Deborah Schein, Head of Field Office of the United Nations Mission of South Sudan (UNMISS) in Bor.

Thousands of people fled when violence broke out in South Sudan five years ago.

In an interview with UNMISS media, John Ayun, a resident of the area said: “We wish to appeal to the government, the United Nations and all to come to our aid,” he said, outlining the kind of assistance he wanted to see. “We want good roads by which humanitarian agencies and our people can move to their farms and businesses easily,” he explained.

Anyeth, a rather frail-looking woman enumerated the needs of her community, speaking through an interpreter, “We need water. Right now, we do not have enough food and water and it is a big problem for us in Lankien.”

On her expectations about the ongoing peace process, Anyeth said she hoped the revitalized peace agreement would succeed, “so that we can have lasting peace and development.”