Roundup: South Sudan IDPs hopeful of resettlement under unity gov't

The internally displaced South Sudanese uprooted for nearly two years of civil war have expressed hope of returning to their homes following the formation of the unity government.

Some IDPs have cited improved security within the capital Juba despite existing pockets of insecurity in conflict affected states of Unity and Jonglei states, home to more than 40,000 IDPs from Nuer community still sheltering at the largest protection of civilians' (PoC) site in Juba.

Before the formation of the unity government, some of the IDPs interviewed by Xinhua said they would be returning home only after First Vice-President Riek Machar had returned to Juba to take up his post as first-vice president under the peace deal inked last year.

Sarah Nyaluoth, who escaped fighting in the oil rich Bentiu town of Unity state and sought refuge at the Juba PoC, said she can't wait to return home and get her children back in school.

"We want good life. I want to take my children back to school as there is no quality learning at the PoC schools," Nyaluoth decried.

Angelina Nyaniet, a mother of four, came to the UN camp from Bentiu and now hopes to return home with her visually-impaired husband.

She told Xinhua on Thursday that life at the camp is untenable due to scarce food rations they have to share with new arrivals.

"We have food but it's not enough. We have ended up sharing the scarce rations we get with new arrivals that are not registered," Nyaniet said.

According to William Tejok, the Secretary for information committee at the camp, some 21,000 unregistered arrivals has added pressure on scarce food enjoyed by the 22,000 registered IDPs.

Tejok observed the security situation had improved after he had visited Juba town despite fear and tension in the aftermath of the recent gunning down of an IDP outside the camp by unknown assailants.

"Yesterday (Wednesday) I went out by myself and found out there is some change. Things are going to change since Machar arrived in Juba," he observed.

However, Secretary General of the Camp Committee, Phod Mayie, cautioned the situation depends on the confirmation by the joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEAC), the body monitoring the peace deal and authorities, on the full implementation of the 25 km demilitarization of Juba and formation of the joint integrated police.

"People should not be allowed to go out unless the 25 km arrangement is implemented and only if the joint integrated police are in place," Phod assured.

The UN High Commission for Refugees South Sudan Spokesman Rocco Nuri said there are reports of some IDPs returning home on voluntary basis but added that their large scale return depends on government decision.

"There are people already returning to their homes spontaneously. There will be a statement from government on the return of IDPs to their homes," Nuri said according to his observation.

"This is beyond UNHCR when we talk of large scale return. It is a concerted effort that requires government as well as countries housing refugees," he added.

UN reports say an estimated 706,594 South Sudanese are refugees in neighbouring countries and it requires 1.96 billion U.S. dollars to respond to humanitarian needs in 2016. So far it has received only 222 million US dollars representing a meager 17 percent of the funds it needs.

The conflict broke out in December 2013 after President Kiir accused his deputy Machar of plotting a coup which he denied, plunging the country into fighting along ethnic lines that has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 2.3 million people from their homes and 200,000 live in UN protection camps. Endit