The UNHCR High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, warned today that humanitarian partners are contending with a difficult situation as thousands of refugees have arrived over the past three weeks, many in poor condition.
Terry Ongaro, communications officer for UNHCR
In addition, the UNHCR reports that refugees arriving in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State cited daily bombings, difficult escapes and food scarcity in Blue Nile, forcing them to leave the area for the sake of their safety.
“The refugees are reporting that they have undergone multiple displacements inside Blue Nile before crossing the border into South Sudan. They are indicating that there have been area bombings, as well as not being able to cultivate the field this year. So they have no food,” said Terry Ongaro, communications officer for UNHCR’s Juba office.
She said there are indications that many villages have been hosting villagers who have been displaced elsewhere and groups are moving together and crossing into Upper Nile State.
Currently there are close to 105,000 refugees in the area.
“Until about three weeks ago we had 70,000. In that short space of time, we’ve seen an increase of 35,000 crossing the border at various points along the border,” said Ongaro.
Upon their arrival to Upper Nile State, Ongaro said women, men and children are exhausted from their long journey, after walking for weeks.
“Refugee chiefs are telling us that many times they’ve had to pace the journey to allow the elderly and young to carry on with swollen feet and legs,” said Ongaro.
One of the most critical challenges now for the UNHCR and its partners is to move the refugees away from border areas, where there are security risks.
“The other challenge in Upper Nile is in Maban county where we’ve been experiencing problems in accessing water for the refugees. Therefore we are discussing with local authorities the possibility of establishing sites outside of the county,” said Ongaro.
Still, another challenge lies ahead. Ongaro said they are racing against time because the rains have started in an area already logistically challenging.
Newer articles:
- Country Director, South Sudan - Reuters AlertNet - 08/06/2012 22:43
- Sudan, South Sudan to resume talks later this month: official - Reuters - 08/06/2012 20:04
- Sudan, South Sudan break off talks, no deal in sight - Reuters - 08/06/2012 03:52
- Sudan, S.Sudan break off talks, no deal in sight - Reuters - 08/06/2012 01:01
- Sudan's Bashir demands AU summit moves from Malawi - BBC News - 07/06/2012 20:26
Older news items
- Israeli court clears deporting South Sudan migrants - swissinfo.ch - 07/06/2012 11:49
- Israel court clears deporting South Sudan migrants - Reuters - 07/06/2012 10:48
- UN reports on Ugandan warlord's crimes against children - Reuters - 06/06/2012 23:35
- How Many People Are Surviving on Leaves in the Nuba Mountains? - Christian Science Monitor - 06/06/2012 19:36
- Partnerships: The Correct Path for Infrastructure-building in Africa - Knowledge Wharton Today - 06/06/2012 19:30
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan’s ‘Game Of Thrones’ Continues – Analysis - 01/12/2024 17:47
- South Sudan secured over 282 150 doses of oral cholera vaccine to contain the cholera outbreak - 01/12/2024 17:43
- The idea of one nation and one people is a distortion of our reality!!! - 29/11/2024 12:54
- In South Sudan with aid boss John Rynne: 'The maps drawn in colonial times are starting to erode' - 29/11/2024 12:47
- 'They have nothing': Aid workers struggle to save lives at edge of war-torn Sudan - 29/11/2024 12:36
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan Denies Requesting for Relocation of Venue Peace Process: Ambassador Featured - 23/03/2018 17:00
- What Pope Francis Wants Catholic Bishops in Africa, Asia to Know and Help Accomplish - 14/09/2023 00:24
- EU, US send aid to South Sudan - 25/04/2021 22:01
- SPLM: A Party that Deserves Building not Ruining - 04/01/2008 17:54
- US envoy to South Sudan warns of further sanctions - 18/12/2019 06:12
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 58294 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22212 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21350 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 18861 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 17966 times