Nature and challenges of return in post conflict situations: the case of Abarilela Sub-County in Amuria District

Abstract

This study was carried out with the interest of identifying the nature and challenges of return in post conflict situations taking the case of Abarilela Sub County in Amuria district. It sought to establish the challenges faced by the returnees and the coping mechanisms they employ to overcome the challenges. The sample comprised of men and women who were household heads of their respective households. The study found that some lOPs in Abarilela have returned to their areas of origin, others are willing and waiting to return while some more are not willing to return. Findings indicate that not all displaced persons always aspire to return to their areas of origin. Related to the above, the study findings also indicated that the levels of self-sufficiency while in displacement have an important bearing on the pace of return. The households that attained some level of self-sufficiency while in displacement were less willing to return. In terms of challenges faced, the respondents indicated problems such as; inadequate food, shelter, poor healthcare system and education infrastructure. The respondents coped by buying drugs, taking their children to the learning centers, relying on external assistance or providing casual labor. Others said they could do nothing about the challenges they faced. In other words, they resigned to the situation.

The study recommends that where some camps have taken on a semi-permanent status, these would rather be made a focus of long-term development initiatives than encourage the lOPs to return. While it is true that the government and humanitarian agencies have implemented activities to encourage return and reintegration of lOPs, it is recommended that they move away from a prescriptive process of handling returnees' needs; to a participatory approach in order to guide practice. The study found that too little has been done for the socially vulnerable categories of the population such as the elderly persons, widows, people with disability and child headed households which lack family or other networks to support them. The study recommends a social work type of programme to address the needs of such people in a way that can help them re­establish themselves.