Aerial view of Ulang County. (Photo: Courtesy).

The commissioner of Ulang County in Upper Nile State has said residents have started returning to their homes after two months of hiding due to fighting.

Major General Justin Nihal said security has improved, and a recent food drop operation has encouraged people to come home.

Gen. Nihal stated that the availability of food relief, recently airdropped by the government, has been a key factor in their return.

“Now I am touring the Ulang. The security situation is normal; there are no threats. And then a big influx of the population came to get their ration here,” he said.

This development follows the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) taking control of Ulang town from the White Army militia two months ago, after deadly clashes.

Gen. Nihal added that the area has received food airdrops for the last two days.

“Because there is a food drop here, it took two days to drop the food. A lot of people are in Ulang town now, which is wanting their ration, emergency food,” he said.

Commissioner Nihal confirmed that the situation in the county has improved.

He said the improved security has allowed people who had sought refuge along a local river to return to their homes in Ulang town.

Last week, medical charity group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced it had permanently withdrawn all healthcare support from Ulang after a violent looting during months of violence.

MSF said its offices and stores were looted of drugs and equipment worth over 135,000 Euros.

Ulang, along with Nasir and Maiwut counties, was severely affected by weeks of fighting between the White Army and the SSPDF, which began in March this year.

The clashes in Nasir resulted in the killing of SSPF Major General Majur Dak and several others by the White Army during an evacuation operation by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

In April, Cabinet Minister Martin Elia Lomuro said more than 400 soldiers of the national army were killed during attacks on the army’s barracks by the White Army.