The United Nations says it has closed the first of several protection camps that have sheltered more than 200,000 internally displaced persons during South Sudan’s civil war.
The site that was located next to the United Nations base in Melut in the Upper Nile region was home to hundreds of families since the war broke out four years ago.
The agency said that it had been assisting families return to their homes with the help of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and UNHCR, in partnership with other humanitarian agencies.
“It’s gratifying to finally see people feel safe enough to go home. There is conflict across much of South Sudan where people fear for their lives. But in some areas, like Melut, we are able to help people out of the camps back to their communities,” Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS David Shearer said.
South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, following accusations by President Salva Kiir that his then-deputy Riek Machar was plotting a coup against his government. Machar denied the allegations but then went on to mobilize a rebel force to fight the government.
The war has killed thousands and forced millions to flee their homes.
The UN earlier this year ranked South Sudan as Africa’s biggest refugee crisis, coming third worldwide after Syria and Afghanistan.
According to the UN, the closure of the site at Melut will enable the peacekeeping troops based there to shift their focus from guarding the camp to increasing patrols in the surrounding area.
