‘Influx from South Sudan to Abyei continues’: OCHA
Around 23,300 South Sudanese people have fled their country and arrived in Sudanese states following the violent clashes in their country. An additional 2,500-3,000 people have sought refuge in the conflicted Abyei area.The number of people fleeing the conflict in South Sudan for Sudan has increased, the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Sunday. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimated on 23 January that around 20,000 refugees had arrived in Sudan’s border states since clashes erupted between the South Sudanese army and armed opposition forces in December last year. At the end of January, OCHA concluded that 23,300 refugees have arrived in the country, given the figures from the Sudanese government and international aid organisations. The majority of people (nearly 15,000) are taking refuge in Sudan’s White Nile state, where two relocation sites – Kilo 10 in Al Salam and Al Alagaya in Jebelein – have been set up. Sudan does not consider the people from South Sudan to be refugees, but rather as ‘people with humanitarian needs’. The country has therefore not established refugee camps as the people may settle anywhere without restrictions. The government and the UNHCR further expected that between 350 and 371 South Sudanese have arrived in Khartoum. Estimations from national agencies and international humanitarians, however, differ for the states of West and South Kordofan, and Blue Nile. The International Organization Migration (IOM) reported on Sunday that the number of people fleeing into the Sudanese areas they are covering, has dropped. Nearly two weeks earlier, a ceasefire agreement in South Sudan was signed between the national army and the armed opposition. A political struggle between President Salva Kiir and sacked former Vice President Riek Machar in Juba last December led to violent clashes between the South Sudanese army and army defectors throughout the country, fuelled by ethnic differences. Photo: A teenager displaced by recent violence washes clothes in a basin at a UN compound in South Sudan (K. McKinsey / UNHCR)Related:20,000 South Sudanese ‘not refugees’ (23 January 2014) 2,000 Upper Nile refugees in Sudan’s Abu Jubeiha (21 January 2014)
Around 23,300 South Sudanese people have fled their country and arrived in Sudanese states following the violent clashes in their country. An additional 2,500-3,000 people have sought refuge in the conflicted Abyei area.
The number of people fleeing the conflict in South Sudan for Sudan has increased, the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Sunday. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimated on 23 January that around 20,000 refugees had arrived in Sudan’s border states since clashes erupted between the South Sudanese army and armed opposition forces in December last year. At the end of January, OCHA concluded that 23,300 refugees have arrived in the country, given the figures from the Sudanese government and international aid organisations.
The majority of people (nearly 15,000) are taking refuge in Sudan’s White Nile state, where two relocation sites – Kilo 10 in Al Salam and Al Alagaya in Jebelein – have been set up. Sudan does not consider the people from South Sudan to be refugees, but rather as ‘people with humanitarian needs’. The country has therefore not established refugee camps as the people may settle anywhere without restrictions.
The government and the UNHCR further expected that between 350 and 371 South Sudanese have arrived in Khartoum.
Estimations from national agencies and international humanitarians, however, differ for the states of West and South Kordofan, and Blue Nile. The International Organization Migration (IOM) reported on Sunday that the number of people fleeing into the Sudanese areas they are covering, has dropped. Nearly two weeks earlier, a ceasefire agreement in South Sudan was signed between the national army and the armed opposition.
A political struggle between President Salva Kiir and sacked former Vice President Riek Machar in Juba last December led to violent clashes between the South Sudanese army and army defectors throughout the country, fuelled by ethnic differences.
Photo: A teenager displaced by recent violence washes clothes in a basin at a UN compound in South Sudan (K. McKinsey / UNHCR)
Related:
20,000 South Sudanese ‘not refugees’ (23 January 2014)
2,000 Upper Nile refugees in Sudan’s Abu Jubeiha (21 January 2014)
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