The Commissioner of Kajo-Keji County, Hon. Wani Jackson Mule has received a delegation from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) humanitarian assessment team.
This comes amid growing humanitarian concerns following cross-border clashes between South Sudanese and Ugandan forces.
The high-level visit, which took place on August 6, comes in the wake of a deadly July 28 incident in which the Uganda People’sDefense Forces (UPDF) reportedly attacked positions of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
Commissioner Mule described the attack as “preplanned” and condemned its timing, noting it occurred while local authorities were preparing for a peaceful cross-border dialogue with the neighboring Uganda’s Yumbe District officials.
“This incident not only disrupted our diplomatic engagement with Uganda but has also caused massive displacement of civilians, creating an urgent humanitarian emergency,” said Hon. Mule in a statement
He met the UNMISS delegation in his office at Uphill Mere.
According to the Commissioner, thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) primarily women, children, and the elderly have sought refuge in six informal camps located in Liwolo and Kangapo II Payams.
He appealed to humanitarian organizations and the government for immediate assistance, citing critical shortages in shelter, food, clean water, clothing, and medical care.
Speaking on behalf of humanitarian partners, Mr. LikamboRichard Arike, Project Officer for the Support for Peace and Education Development Program (SPEDP) under the Reconciliation, Stabilization, and Resilience Trust Fund (RSRTF), presented key findings from an assessment mission tothe restive Nyainga-Muda conflict hotspot.
He reported that 2,673 households—approximately 16,038 people have been displaced, with some IDP sites now hosting up to 7,477 individuals each.
He further warned that the scale of the crisis has overwhelmed local response efforts, which have been hampered by inadequate emergency funding and logistical constraints.
The UNMISS visit sought to gather firsthand information on the humanitarian impact of the clashes, evaluate security conditions, and coordinate with local officials on immediate and long-term response strategies.
Commissioner Mule confirmed that the security situation in the affected areas remains volatile but added that diplomatic talks are underway in Juba to resolve the border tensions and prevent further violence.
Humanitarian agencies are expected to scale up their presence in the coming days as needs assessments continue across the region.
