Over 80,000 Flee to South Sudan Amid Escalating Violence in Sudan

Refugee Camp in Sudan Photo: UNHCR

December 25, 2024 Hour: 1:40 pm

The ongoing violence in Sudan has forced over 80,000 people to seek refuge in South Sudan within a span of less than three weeks, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The influx of refugees and returnees, predominantly women and children, is primarily driven by escalating fighting in Sudan’s White Nile, Sennar, and Blue Nile states.

Nyarob, a returnee from South Sudan, described the chaotic situation: “The situation was not safe at all. When the army entered, there were gunshots, and a lot of chaos occurred. I immediately took my children and walked to the Joda border with others because we needed a safe place for our children.”

At the Joda border and surrounding villages, resources are being stretched thin. Makeshift shelters have been set up to accommodate the displaced population, but malnutrition rates have surpassed emergency thresholds.

There is an acute shortage of clean water and sanitation facilities, significantly increasing the risk of disease outbreaks among the vulnerable population.

Silva Alkebeh, Chief of Supply Logistics at UNHCR, noted the rapid increase in numbers: “This place two weeks ago was almost empty. We built the reception center to accommodate a few hundred people. Currently, we have over 5,000 refugees and returnees staying at the border and many along the roadside. People are sharing very limited resources.”

The war in #Sudan🇸🇩 has raged for over 20 months, displacing more than 12 million people.

Escalating violence forces thousands to flee daily.

Food insecurity, human rights violations, and unimaginable suffering are pushing millions to the brink of survival. #KeepEyesOnSudan pic.twitter.com/7e2adVceoc
— UNHCR Sudan (@UNHCRinSudan) December 21, 2024

Despite efforts to scale up assistance for those affected by this crisis, the response remains severely underfunded. UNHCR has issued warnings that without additional resources, life-saving aid and support for both displaced individuals and host communities will continue to be inadequate.

As conditions worsen for those fleeing violence in Sudan, urgent international support is needed to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding at the Joda border and beyond.