South Sudan — Rubkona County Village Assessment Survey (September - October 2023)

The data collection took place from September 14th, 2023, to October 3rd, 2023, covering a period of twenty days. The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), a unit of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), conducted a 20-day Village Assessment Survey (VAS) in Rubkona County to assess transition and recovery needs. The survey focused on 09 Payam and 27 bomas accessible, as rainy season and flood limited access to some of the areas.

Of the 76 settlements assessed, 12 were found deserted while 64 remained populated. The survey meticulously mapped 240 facilities, 76 settlements, and 2 livelihood areas across the surveyed bomas. This includes 6 settlements in 6 bomas not assessed due to flooding. Among the 76-settlement identified, there are 37 neighborhoods, 30 permanent villages, 7 IDP sites and 2 temporary sites. The team managed to map 2 livelihood areas categorized into fishery grounds.

KEY FINDINGS

The assessment reveals a substantial number of destroyed or abandoned buildings, emphasizing the pressing need for housing reconstruction initiatives to address the housing crisis in the county.

Many areas within Rubkona County lack access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and markets, indicating a need for targeted interventions to improve service provision and overall community well-being.

In 67% of bomas, the fear of disasters, such as flooding, poses a substantial challenge for peaceful return, emphasizing the impact of environmental factors on human settlements.

A prevalent issue in multiple bomas across Rubkona County is the presence of individuals living on land/property without paying rent or obtaining permission from the owners, with 57% of bomas reporting such instances.

Most residential structures in Rubkona County lack permanency, characterized by the prevalence of temporary shelters such as tents and tukuls. These constructions are primarily composed of mud walls and thatched roofing, indicating a deficiency in durable and lasting housing infrastructure.

Critical need for improvements in school infrastructure, including insecure buildings, classroom shortages, insufficient furniture, and inadequate water and sanitation facilities, to create a conducive learning environment.

Urgent need for renovations, upgrades, and construction of permanent structures in healthcare facilities to ensure a safe environment for patients and healthcare workers.

The pressing need to rehabilitate non-operational boreholes to ensure a reliable water supply. the lack of water user committees in certain bomas inhibits local management of water resources.