Do I have to take care of small villages in second campaign mission?

I have trouble getting back into the game. I am at a spot where I am affraid of not providing to the small villages all over the map in the second campaign mission.

Do people die/leave there, or do they self sustain?

Thing is I would rather start with getting done few bigger towns first and expand to these smaller villages gradually, but I am affraid there won't really be anything to expand to.

I hope this makes sense.