Severe economic hardship is driving an increase in crime across South Sudan.

For the Kasire community, in the capital Juba, the worsening security situation is creating fear and many sleepless nights.

“Two weeks ago, a community member was killed in his own home during a robbery,” recounts youth leader, Joseph Odongi.

“The insecurity has forced some residents to relocate to safer areas in the city,” explains another community member, Louis Loro Yugu. “We urge the government to establish a police post in Kasire to restore safety and save lives.”

The residents expressed their concerns about security and other challenges at an outreach event organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to support conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts at the grassroots level.

Women’s leader Hellen Dudu highlighted the difficulty of raising families during an economic crisis.

“We survive on one meal a day and can hardly afford water. Our children are denied education and, fearful of violence, many people are resorting to urinating in bottles at night rather than to use toilets outside the house.”

UNMISS Chief of Protection, Transition, and Reintegration, Julie Kiwanuka, addressed the concerns during the event, attended by 70 community leaders.

“Collaborative efforts are crucial to ensuring security for local communities as well as enabling displaced people to return safely to their homes,” she said. “All stakeholders, communities and security services, must take concrete action together to ensure sustainable peace and security.”