JUBA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the European Union, on Friday launched a new initiative to support communities displaced by conflict and climate shocks in South Sudan to rebuild their lives safely and with dignity.

Vijaya Souri, IOM chief of mission in South Sudan, said that the initiative, dubbed "Catalyzing Durable Solutions" and targeting Rubkona and Yei River counties, aims to connect humanitarian realities with development-oriented planning and institutional strengthening.

"These communities have shown remarkable resilience, but resilience alone is not enough. This project seeks to support efforts to secure land rights, promote effective urban planning, and strengthen livelihoods to ensure that displacement risks do not become recurrent," Souri said during the launch in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

She noted that Rubkona County, located in Unity State, has for decades been hit by heavy floods, causing large-scale displacement, adding that the initiative aims to reduce risks and create safer conditions for affected communities.

Souri stressed that the initiative focuses primarily on long-term sustainable recovery rather than short-term assistance.

"From a national perspective, one of the central pillars of this action focuses on housing, land and property. We aim to support and secure access to housing, land and property to underpin recovery, drive economic development and promote peace," she said.

Pelle Enarsson, EU ambassador to South Sudan, said the EU-funded 14-million-U.S.-dollar initiative represents a significant additional investment in supporting displaced communities and fostering sustainable development in the region.

"Displacement and migration issues are among the EU's cross-cutting priorities. This means that all our programs must address the specific needs of displaced populations," he said.

He revealed that in Yei River County, the project will focus on urban planning and infrastructure improvements to facilitate the integration and safety of displaced communities.

"However, most displacement in South Sudan is caused by conflict, and unfortunately, there is little the EU, IOM, or even the local authorities can do to end it directly. Sustainable peace and stability must be ensured, and it must come from within South Sudan itself," Enarsson said. ■