Lessons Learned from South Sudan Protection of Civilian Sites 2013–2016

29
Nyalkume
Juba UN House PoC Site
20-30 years old, Nuer woman
When fighting broke out in Juba on 15 December 2013,
Nyalkume fled to the UNMISS Tongping base. Her
family arrived at the western gate, but it was closed and
people were fearful. Some IDPs were sneaking into the
camp while others began to push on the gates to open
them by force. When the guards at the gate saw that
people were going to force the gates open they decided
to open them and let them in. From the gate UNMISS
moved IDPs by bus to the Rwandan Battalion area
where they were given cooking utensils and water and
children were given biscuits. They settled there and
stayed until the rains came and the area was flooded.
Then they were transferred to the Japanese Battalion
area. Soon this area became flooded as well, and when
Nyalkume heard that people were being relocated
from Tongping to Jebel (location of UN House and
PoC site 3) they volunteered to go and were part of
the first group of IDPs relocated in June 2014. Life in
UN House was much better, but as new arrivals kept
coming without being registered, they have to share
the water and food with them. When the Transitional
Government of National Unity is formed, she plans
to look for her parents in Leer, where she is originally
from. She has not heard from her family in Leer since
the conflict began two years ago and is worried about
them. She hopes an organization can help her find
them and reconnect when there is peace.
They settled there and stayed
until the rains came and the area was
flooded. Then they were transferred to the
Japanese Batallion area. Soon this area
became flooded as well ...