Social Connections and Displacement from South Sudan to Uganda: Towards a Relational Understanding of Survival during Conflict

Abstract

South Sudanese fled their communities in large numbers following the outbreak of political violence in 2013, with an estimated 4.5 million forcibly displaced by mid-2018. Of neighbouring countries, Uganda hosts the greatest number of South Sudanese refugees. Based on qualitative data collected in 2018 and 2019 in two refugee settlements in the West Nile sub-region of Uganda, this article examines the social connectedness of refugees during their flight and after their arrival in Uganda. How do refugees rely on the new relationships they form during displacement, and in what ways do these relationships enhance our understanding of the role, forms, and importance of social connectedness during displacement? We analyse how social connections provide material and non-material support, how refugees use scarce resources to negotiate and cultivate social connections, and how gender and status influence inclusion and exclusion within social networks. We find that proximity and shared experience are the two most important factors in social connectedness following displacement and that non-material support plays a critical role in facilitating resilience. Collectively, these findings highlight the significance of a relational, rather than individualistic, approach to survival during displacement. In addition to the theoretical significance of these findings, and the contribution to the growing literature on social connectedness during armed conflict, this article is relevant to humanitarian decision-makers and practitioners who aim to craft programmes that support, rather than undermine, the coping strategies of displaced people.

Refugee Welfare Councils as Spaces of Local Citizenship Production: The Case of Adjumani District, Uganda

“…In all cases, the ordinary refugees interviewed reported relying on RWCs and cluster leaders every time they had problems, grievances or questions about how things worked in the settlement, irrespective of their ethnic belonging, including in ethnically mixed clusters. 13 Irrespective of the level of control of the Ugandan government and of the ethnic composition of RWCs, this confirms the predominance of relations based on proximity and on the shared experience of exile rather than on kinship or clan, as used to be the case in South Sudan (Stites and Humphrey 2020), showing the emergence of new unifying elements among the refugee community.…”

“…Other observers have confirmed the apparent emergence of a South Sudanese identity based on an idea of unity (Stites and Humphrey 2020); however, it is important to acknowledge the complexity of social relations between different ethnic communities within the settlements. Occasionally, rumours of RWC I chairmen keeping information about development projects and relief assistance from certain cluster leaders belonging to different ethnic groups emerged (Interview 0028; see also Stites and Humphrey 2020), and may suggest a reality far from the idyllic picture provided by some of the interviewees. A UNHCR senior official also expressed suspicion about the RWCs' reliability, as he thought that their election was strongly influenced and manipulated by the OPM (Interview 0005).…”

From humanitarian crisis to employment crisis: The lives and livelihoods of South Sudanese refugee health workers in Uganda

“…Elsewhere, the availability of qualification programmes has improved integration of health workers into the host‐country's labour market, 12,42 including in Turkey, where inclusion of Syrian professionals was also theorised to improve access to care for refugees 43 . The group credentialling and training modality would also likely increase positive social connections among refugees and build resilience, 44 and was seen as a key benefit to refugee health workers in the UK 17 . Refugee health professionals can serve on steering groups to contribute cross‐cultural knowledge to mentorship and placement programmes 45 .…”

Confirmatory factor analysis of latent constructs for measuring social well-being in African migrant samples

“…While the continuous rejections, hostilities, and mistrust from locals are social challenges within the ecosystem that define migrants’ lives and well-being [ 2 ], separation from their families, the loss of connection to their home culture or meaning of home is a notable issue which further leads to feelings of detachment and cultural disorientation [ 21 ]. Disruptions to social and emotional support networks and means of subsistence [ 28 ], unanticipated difficulties adjusting to new surroundings [ 29 ], uncertainty about immigration status [ [30] , [31] , [32] ], the struggle to achieve their personal goals and fulfill basic needs, or inability to engage in meaningful daily activities, loss of control over their living conditions and destiny contributes to a sense of frustration and dissatisfaction. Their ability to play a meaningful role within their new community is further compromised, potentially leading to feelings of exclusion and isolation [ 11 , 20 ].…”