South Sudan: New livelihoods for refugees from South Kordofan

BENTIU [ACTED News] - Displaced Sudanese populations have been arriving in Unity State, South Sudan, for the past year with large new waves of refugees since March 2012. ACTED has been providing critical livelihoods programming for refugees from South Kordofan in both Nyeel and Pariang Refugee camps. These two camps host more than 3,000 refugees and have a combined host community population of approximately 3,500 people.

Pariang County, along with other Northern border areas, is facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity causing significant consumption gaps and above usual malnutrition rates. In response to the growing needs, ACTED has begun distributing 823 household kits of seeds, vegetables and tools to refugees and host communities in Nyeel and Pariang. Trainings have been provided on vegetable gardening demonstration plots and maintenance of the crops to ensure that communities are successful with the cultivation. This programming is critical at the start of the rainy season so that crops will grow and provide a harvest to the refugees and communities in September. Not only will this improve food security, but it will provide a source of livelihoods for refugees. This project is supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.