The situation is critical in South Sudan - Reuters AlertNet

Source: member // Danish Refugee Council (DRC) - Denmark

10,000 Sudanese refugees have crossed the border to South Sudan over the past few days – many more will follow. They reach the Danish Refugee Council’s refugee camp still under establishment . The situation is critical, as there is urgent need for clean water, relief and additional resources.

Photo by: Christian Als

Over the last few days 10,000 refugees have crossed the border into South Sudan. They are fleeing the fighting in Blue Nile State in Sudan. Nearly 50,000 more will potentially follow. The refugees cannot stay at the border. There is neither the facilities to receive them or security as the fighting is ongoing. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, therefore leads the refugees towards the camp currently being established by DRC.

"The camp is not yet fully constructed, but the refugees are arriving anyway. There were 450 new refugees yesterday - today we expect an additional 1,000. They have basic needs for tents and relief aid. But they also depend on latrines, reception facilities, schools and infrastructure to secure the access of emergency relief, "says program coordinator for the Danish Refugee Council in South Sudan, Anders Engberg, describing the situation as critical.

There are 130,000 refugees from Sudan in South Sudan already. Now there is another 10,000 people at the border, and 50,000 on the move. Just three refugee camps are already established - and a new camp is being established by the DRC but they will be under great pressure.

"The refugees arrive after days and weeks on the run. They are sick and exhausted and they arrive to an area difficult to reach with the needed aid and supplies. Regardless of which camp they are sent to, many will be forced to live under the trees at the beginning. It is certainly not optimal, "says Anders Engberg, who has just been in the area.

In early June the rainy season begins, this will further aggravate the situation in the area making it almost impossible to bring in relief aid and at the same time increase the risk of cholera outbreaks and other waterborne diseases.

"The situation has not yet turned into a humanitarian crisis - and we will do everything we can to prevent it. But we are faced with a situation where more than 100,000 people within a short time can be cut off from emergency aid and assistance. We are working in a race against time to get the necessary structures in place before then, "concludes Anders Engberg.