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Rarefying natural resources are main issue in South Sudan

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South Sudan
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ACTED
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JUBA [ACTED News] - The village of Jamam, home to approximately 3,000 inhabitants, is now hosting over 35,000 refugees who have fled their homes in Blue Nile state due to escalating conflict in the region. The additional population, which arrived over a period of approximately 3 months, is causing major strains on the natural resources in the area. The depletion of forest resources is already apparent in the areas surrounding the Jamam camp sites; refugees now have to spend between 4 and 8 hours a day collecting firewood for cooking. Refugees have also been selling wood and charcoal on the local market, causing prices to decline and endangering the livelihood activities of Jamam village residents.

ACTED is working to identify viable solutions for the conservation of natural resources. Needs assessments about household energy consumption are being carried out and future activities with the community, including construction of energy saving stoves, environmental sensitization and tree-planting activities are planned. These activities are planned, not only to reduce the environmental impact of the inflow of refugees, but also to bring together members of the refugee and host communities, in order to support positive relations between the two groups.