JUBA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Sudan has dropped by 300,000 in the past 18 months, a new UN-backed study showed on Thursday.
The survey by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) finds that number of IDPs in South Sudan reduced from 1.8 to 1.5 million over the past 18 months.
The report did not give reasons for the drop in IDPs numbers, but since the signing of a new peace deal in September 2018, areas previously hit by recurring violence have enjoyed relative stability.
The survey which covered 2,312 locations across all 78 counties of South Sudan reveals that some 26,302 individuals left IDP camps in the last two months.
"I am very pleased that we have been able to update the IDP data. The ability to understand the context and measure displacement is crucial to serving people who are impacted by the crisis," said Alain Noudehou, the Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan.
South Sudan descended into conflict in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir sacked his deputy Riek Machar leading to fighting between soldiers loyal to both leaders.
The conflict killed tens of thousands and displaced over 4 million people both internally and externally.
A peace deal signed in 2015 collapsed after outbreak of renewed violence in July 2016 forcing Machar to flee the capital.
Under the 2018 peace deal Machar will take up one of the four vice presidency positions in the transitional government.
