The town is known for the effects of extended fighting from the South Sudanese Civil War, leading to exceptionally poor humanitarian conditions including destruction of infrastructure, forced displacement, starvation, and sexual violence.
Nyal acted as a security centre as many people came from different corners of Unity State and Eastern Upper Nile to live.
The rainy season typically begins in April, making roads and the local landing strip inaccessible.
[2] Nyal residents do not travel to the capital, Juba, by road, due to the presence of government forces, and hence must depend on aid organizations for food and medical supplies.
For people living in the swamps north of town, only local herbal medicines may be available, such as preparations made from the Nim tree.
"[2] Also in March 2014, a Director of Food and Agriculture Organization's Emergency and Rehabilitation Division visited an island in the swamps north of Nyal which hosted 2,000 internally displaced persons, commenting, "It wasn’t until we spoke to them that we began to understand the true magnitude of their despair."
Residents were preparing flour from water lilies, which had little nutritional value, and the International Rescue Committee expressed concern about the possibility of famine.
Displaced persons who were unable to travel by boats or canoe arrived on foot, with their possessions wrapped up in plastic sheets, and dragging their bundles behind them with a rope.
[5] A March 2016 report estimates that over 50,000 people have now arrived in Nyal to escape the two years of fighting, in which scorched-earth tactics, atrocities, and sexual violence were used against civilian population.
One freelance journalist reports being told that there was "no news hook.” She found that women in Nyal were willing to talk to her about rape, but would not discuss it with the local men.
[citation needed] 1: Niang FC This club has Many stars than others in football competition so they took a lot of titles in Greater Nyal or Payinjiar at large.