South Sudanese stuck at Darfur border

08/01/2014 17:19

The Sultan of the Dinka tribe in Khor Omer camp in East Darfur said that South Sudanese were unable to cross into East Darfur, because they were stopped at the border by South Sudanese authorities.The UN said that aid workers also received reports from Rizeigat leaders in South Sudan’s Bahr El Arab locality, saying that South Sudanese were gathering at the border and were preparing to cross into East Darfur. As of 8 January, there has been no verification of people crossing the border.The State Ministry of Education in East Darfur reported that South Sudanese, most of whom are women and children, have crossed the border from South Sudan’s Bahr El Ghazal locality and have entered the Samaha area in East Darfur. This information was denied by local sources.According to the UN Humanitarian Coordination Office, the aid organisations in East Darfur prepared a response plan for the possible influx of an estimated 10,000 people from South Sudan to camps in East Darfur, including Abu Maitariq, Abu Jabra, El Ferdous and Khor-Omer. If these people arrive from South Sudan, their critical needs are expected to be food, emergency shelter, non-food relief supplies as well as education, health, water and sanitation services. The NGOs in Ed Daein are concerned about the lack of adequate relief supplies in East Darfur, particularly concerning shelter, non-food relief items as well as nutrition and education supplies.AbyeiIn Abyei, between 2,000 and 2,500 people have entered the Abyei box from South Sudan’s Unity state and moved into the Agok area, UNOCHA reported. A few people were moving back into South Sudan’s Warrap state. Most of the displaced people are women and children, who have taken refuge with relatives and friends.In South Kordofan, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has verified that an estimated 2,700 people have arrived in the state as of 4 January, of whom the vast majority are nomadic. According to the IOM, 924 people have taken refuge in El Leri town, 950 have taken refuge in Talodi town and 800 have taken refuge in El Amira town. File photo: South Sudanese refugees have fled fighting to Uganda (NY Times)Related: South Sudanese exodus; 2,500 leaving each day: UNHCR (7 Januari 2014)

The Sultan of the Dinka tribe in Khor Omer camp in East Darfur said that South Sudanese were unable to cross into East Darfur, because they were stopped at the border by South Sudanese authorities.

The UN said that aid workers also received reports from Rizeigat leaders in South Sudan’s Bahr El Arab locality, saying that South Sudanese were gathering at the border and were preparing to cross into East Darfur. As of 8 January, there has been no verification of people crossing the border.

The State Ministry of Education in East Darfur reported that South Sudanese, most of whom are women and children, have crossed the border from South Sudan’s Bahr El Ghazal locality and have entered the Samaha area in East Darfur. This information was denied by local sources.

According to the UN Humanitarian Coordination Office, the aid organisations in East Darfur prepared a response plan for the possible influx of an estimated 10,000 people from South Sudan to camps in East Darfur, including Abu Maitariq, Abu Jabra, El Ferdous and Khor-Omer. If these people arrive from South Sudan, their critical needs are expected to be food, emergency shelter, non-food relief supplies as well as education, health, water and sanitation services. The NGOs in Ed Daein are concerned about the lack of adequate relief supplies in East Darfur, particularly concerning shelter, non-food relief items as well as nutrition and education supplies.

Abyei

In Abyei, between 2,000 and 2,500 people have entered the Abyei box from South Sudan’s Unity state and moved into the Agok area, UNOCHA reported. A few people were moving back into South Sudan’s Warrap state. Most of the displaced people are women and children, who have taken refuge with relatives and friends.

In South Kordofan, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has verified that an estimated 2,700 people have arrived in the state as of 4 January, of whom the vast majority are nomadic. According to the IOM, 924 people have taken refuge in El Leri town, 950 have taken refuge in Talodi town and 800 have taken refuge in El Amira town.

File photo: South Sudanese refugees have fled fighting to Uganda (NY Times)

Related: South Sudanese exodus; 2,500 leaving each day: UNHCR (7 Januari 2014)