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Distribution of food and essential household items to South Sudanese returnees in Gok Machar

The conflict in Sudan has left thousands dead and displaced more than 13 million people from their homes. Out of the total, South Sudan hosts an estimated 1.1 million Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese returnees, increasing pressure on the already overstretched and meagre resources of host communities.  

Nearly all fled the violence in Sudan with nothing, and they face an even grim future in South Sudan, where some 7.7 million people – over half the population – are acutely food insecure or worse, with hunger reaching near-record levels.

Communities across South Sudan are increasingly food insecure, as conflict and violence disrupt livelihoods and cause extreme shortages of essential needs. In response to the plight of the returnees from Sudan, in July 2025, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in collaboration with the South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC), distributed food and essential household items to some 12,000 affected people in Gok Machar in Aweil North, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State. 

Each family received a bag of beans, two bags of sorghum, salt, sugar, and cooking oil. Families also received non-food items such as kitchen sets, blankets, soap, buckets, mats, mosquito nets, tarpaulins, as well as dignity kits for women and girls. 

South Sudanese returnees at Gok Machar
Junior Ali/ICRC

Thousands of returnees who fled the conflict in Sudan, with almost nothing, wait to receive their dry food rations and Essential Household Items that the ICRC was distributing in Gok Machar. Some 1.1 million Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese returnees have arrived in South Sudan since April 2023, increasing pressure on the overstretched and meagre resources of host communities.

South Sudanese returnees at Gok Machar
Junior Ali/ICRC

Slowly sipping tea, this South Sudanese woman, who returned to South Sudan after fleeing the conflict in Sudan, waits patiently to receive her dry food ration and Essential Household Items that the ICRC was distributing in Gok Machar. Some 1.1 million Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese returnees have arrived in South Sudan since April 2023, increasing pressure on the overstretched resources of host communities.

South Sudanese returnees at Gok Machar
Junior Ali/ICRC

With an estimated 7.7 million people – over half the population – in South Sudan acutely food insecure or worse, with hunger reaching near-record levels, food and non-food items that the ICRC and the South Sudan Red Cross distributed in July to returnees in Gok Machar are crucial to sustain lives.

South Sudanese returnees at Gok Machar
Junior Ali/ICRC

Some South Sudanese returnees listen attentively as ICRC staff and SSRC volunteers give details about the food and non-food items that they are about to receive. Some of these returnees are living with relatives but an upsurge in conflict and violence in recent months has disrupted livelihoods and caused extreme shortages of food and essential needs across South Sudan.

South Sudanese returnees at Gok Machar
Junior Ali/ICRC

Two South Sudanese women smile as they walk away with their share of food rations that the ICRC distributed in July in Gok Machar to returnees who fled the conflict in nearby Sudan with almost nothing. Some 1.1 million Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese returnees have arrived in South Sudan since April 2023, increasing pressure on the overstretched and meagre resources of host communities.

South Sudanese returnees at Gok Machar
Junior Ali/ICRC

“I had absolutely nothing. I was losing my head, and then the Red Cross came.” Said Wol, a 64-year-old father of three, after receiving his family`s share of dry food ration and Essential Household Items that the ICRC distributed in July in Gok Machar to returnees who fled the conflict in nearby Sudan with almost nothing. “These items are a lot. Now I will go through this month without any challenges.” He added.

South Sudanese returnees at Gok Machar
Junior Ali/ICRC

Smiling women return home after receiving their dry food rations containing sorghum,beans, cooking oil, sugar and salt including essential household items that the ICRC distributed in July in Gok Machar to returnees who fled the conflict in nearby Sudan. Most of the returnees arriving are female-headed families who say they were either separated or lost contact with their spouses while fleeing the conflict.

ICRC Assistance
Junior Ali/ICRC

“Before this, I used to borrow from neighbors,” says Bakhita. "Help me with a saucepan, help me with a mat to lie down on with my children, but now I have received the items I need, so I am not complaining." Many South Sudanese returnees such as Bakhita got separated from their spouses as they fled the conflict in Sudan, basically brought nothing with them.

South Sudanese returnees at Gok Machar
Junior Ali/ICRC

Bakhita assembles all the Essential Household Items she received together as she patiently waits for help to transport the items home. A mother of nine children, Bakhita got separated from her husband as the family fled the conflict in Sudan. Now she is struggling to take care of the children on her own.

South Sudanese returnees at Gok Machar
Junior Ali/ICRC

Returnees are unable to hire a motorbike or rickshaw to transport their dry food rations and Essential Household Items home must carry everything on their heads. Most of them fled the conflict in Sudan with only the cloth on their back. Some 1.1 million Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese returnees have arrived in South Sudan since April 2023.