Western Equatoria - Each morning, Mary Elisama faces the same question: how will she feed her children? Displaced by violence in Kediba, Western Equatoria, she sought refuge in Mundri, hoping to find safety. But persistent insecurity continues to threaten her efforts to rebuild their lives.
Mary collects firewood in the bush to sell for food. Yet the sound of gunfire often forces her to flee, abandoning her collection and losing a vital source of income.
“When we hear gunshots, we start running and leave whatever firewood we have collected behind. It is a harrowing way to live,” she says.
Her experience reflects the challenges facing many displaced families in Mundri, where abductions, looting and sexual violence compound the hardships of displacement, leaving many struggling to meet their basic needs.
During a visit to assess protection concerns, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) highlighted the importance of strengthening civilian protection and community-based responses to insecurity.
“There have been cases of abduction, with civilians later released. Criminality, too, has undermined the things people are trying to do to cope with life,” reflects Thomas Bazawi, an UNMISS Protection Officer.
With support from the UN Peacekeeping mission, community protection groups are helping displaced families identify risks, access information and remain connected to necessary networks.
“We provide displaced communities with awareness about early warning and how to stay safe. We visit them frequently and don’t leave them alone,” says Mary Kasimiro, a member of a community protection group in Mundri.
Despite these efforts, women and children remain particularly vulnerable according to Memory Musariri, a Military Observer serving with UNMISS.
“Women and children remain the most vulnerable during conflict. Some people who fled from Kediba seven years ago are still living in this displacement camp,” she says.
Such prolonged hardship highlights the difficulty of rebuilding lives when insecurity persists and the possibility of returning home remains uncertain.
For Mary, peace means more than an end to violence. It means providing for her children without fear, sending them to school and eventually returning to her place of origin.
“We are tired. We want this conflict to stop so our children can get an education, and we can live happily in peace where we belong,” she says.
Until then, Mary and countless other displaced families must continue navigating the daily struggle to survive, hoping for a future in which safety and dignity are no longer out of reach.
By Denis Louro
