UNMISS team conducts historic patrol in Tonga

In the far north of South Sudan, along the West Bank of the Nile River lies Tonga. A small, but strategic town, that is currently under the control of opposition groups. Like many parts of South Sudan, the lives of thousands of people from Tonga and surrounding areas have been disrupted as a result of fighting between armed government forces and the opposition. A team from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan visited the area for three-days to get a first-hand understanding on the security and humanitarian situation. Around the small town, the usual sight of makeshift shelters – made from tarpaulin-sheeting bearing humanitarian agency logos - is nowhere to be seen, a sign that aid has not yet reached the area. Many civilians were forced to flee their homes and take shelter in UN protection sites across South Sudan and refugee camps in neighbouring countries when a second wave of fighting erupted in Tonga last April. But calm has since returned. Local authorities say that the area has been stable with no reported fighting since the signing of Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the two warring factions. And as a result, many civilians who had fled are returning home to start afresh. The problem is that there is nothing to come back to. The UN Mission together with humanitarian partners are looking to see how best to address the needs of these vulnerable people. However, humanitarian agencies may face some serious access barriers given Tonga is essentially an island surrounded by water, with only a few narrow roads bridging the town. Despite the challenges, there is hope that the second round of talks during the High Level Revitalization Forum in Addis Ababa will bring about peace, making it possible for civilians to rebuild their lives and restore the country. As talks draw to a close, only time will tell if a clear path to a peaceful and a more stable South Sudan will be forged.