The United Nations Special Advisor of the Secretary-General on Solutions to Internal Displacement on Wednesday concluded a three-day visit to South Sudan during which he examined the IDP situation in the country.
According to a press release from the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, Robert Piper’s visit was to also advocate for the operationalization of the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement.
The Action Agenda is the UN Secretary-General’s vision to better resolve, prevent and address internal displacement crises. South Sudan is one of the sixteen UN Member States selected to pilot the Action Agenda.
During the three days mission, ASG Piper interacted with members of communities who have been displaced in Juba and in Wau where both men and women’s groups expressed the need for peace as a foundation for long-term solutions to the protracted displacement.
“No one should have to live in a camp for so long. No children should live years with the uncertainty of not knowing where home is and not feeling safe,” Piper said. “We need to work differently and do better to make it possible to move on quickly from displacement to finding and implementing durable solutions.”
He met with senior government officials including the Vice President in charge of the Youth and Gender cluster, the Minister of Finance and Planning, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner.
“Decades of conflict, subnational violence, and climate change are the main drivers of internal displacement in South Sudan,” the statement read. “Currently, there are estimated 2.2 internally displaced people in South Sudan, many of whom have been displaced multiple times for years.”
Launched in 2022, the UN Secretary-General’s Agenda on Internal Displacement sets out a common vision for stepped-up action to promote solutions to internal displacement, prevent future displacement crises from emerging, and ensure that individuals have access to protection and assistance.
The Action Agenda has three overarching goals: helping IDPs find a durable solution to their displacement, better prevention of new displacement crises from emerging, and ensuring that those facing displacement receive effective protection and assistance.