Malakal Humanitarian Information Needs: Community Voices Bulletin, October 2024 / Issue #10

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The Internews humanitarian information service involves a continual process of listening and two-way communication with the community and humanitarian responders.

Community Correspondents collect feedback, questions, and concerns from community members each day through one-to-one and group discussions. We ensure a diverse range of voices is heard and provide an alternative for community members who may not feel comfortable, or may not know how, to approach humanitarian actors with their feedback directly.

Supported by the World Food Program (WFP), Internews is working with the Community Engagement Network (CEN) to address community information gaps, concerns, and needs at the Renk Transit Center. We provide a two-way information platform that connects community members with verified and actionable information from humanitarian responders to connect the community with services, elevate community voices, and inform decision-making. This project serves thousands of people displaced by the conflict in Sudan and now travelling through or living in Renk County, Upper Nile State in South Sudan.

OVERVIEW

The feedback collected by the CEN team in Malakal shows a higher prevalence of complaints and requests for food and financial assistance from women compared to men, with most interviewees aged between 26 and 45. Many individuals, particularly nursing mothers, are happy for the support received while highlighting food shortages among those awaiting onward transportation. There are concerns about unequal levels of support, as onward travelers feel they receive less assistance compared to those remaining at the Transit Center. Additionally, delays in cash assistance are attributed to challenges in the registration process. They say they need improvements in general service delivery.

Safety remains a significant concern for displaced individuals at the Malakal Transit Center. They have requested increased police presence and solar lighting to address issues of theft and inadequate visibility.

Refugees have also expressed appreciation for the dignity kits provided, which promote cleanliness, but they urgently request for improvements to the poor public toilet facilities in the Protection of Civilians (PoC) area. The majority of the feedback was sourced from the Transit Center, with others received through calls to Nile FM.

Source: https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/malakal-humanitarian-information-needs-community-voices-bulletin-october-2024-issue-10