It’s time to end South Sudan’s decade of displacement

Over a decade ago, as South Sudan descended into violent conflict, the international community acted quickly to prevent mass atrocities. Protection of Civilians sites were established on UN bases to shelter those fleeing. These sites, precursors to today’s IDP camps, were vital and lifesaving.

What began as a temporary solution has, for many, become a long-term limbo.

Hundreds of thousands remain displaced, some since 2013, dependent on shrinking aid and without access to land, livelihoods or services. Insecurity and unresolved tensions limit their options to return or resettle. For too long, our collective focus has been on emergency relief rather than supporting the transition towards recovery and stability.

This does not diminish the lifesaving role of camps, but it underscores the need to move forward – responsibly and sustainably – to help families find solutions beyond displacement.

South Sudan’s displacement crisis reflects a global challenge: a humanitarian system designed for short-term response but often ill-equipped for long-term solutions. Progress is possible.

Across the country, UN agencies and partners are already working with communities and authorities to lay the foundations for durable solutions. In Bentiu, Malakal and Wau, efforts are underway improve access to land, restore housing, strengthen legal protections and create jobs – the building blocks of a stable future. Other initiatives focus on restoring services such as water, health and education, making return areas more viable and sustainable.

Locally led peace dialogues in Malakal and other areas are helping rebuild trust among divided communities. Youth groups, women’s networks and traditional leaders are shaping roadmaps for reintegration, supported by national institutions.

South Sudan’s path to durable solutions must be nationally led, with government ownership at its core. International partners, including the UN, stand ready to provide technical and financial support.

The UN Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement offers a framework for this support. It calls on governments, donors, and humanitarian and development actors to work together on inclusive, development-driven approaches.

In South Sudan, this means aligning international assistance with national priorities, complementing government leadership with the resources and expertise required to implement them.

Helping people move beyond displacement is a moral responsibility and an essential step towards peace and development. Achieving this will require:

The risks of inaction are clear: prolonged dependency, deeper marginalization and lost futures for another generation. The alternative path centres on dignity, agency and recovery.

South Sudan has the opportunity to lead the way. With the resilience of its people, strengthened national leadership and sustained international support, we can begin to turn the page on displacement – showing what a humanitarian system committed not just to survival, but to solutions, can achieve.

For more information, please visit the Durable Solutions Hub of the UN in South Sudan.