June 7, 2023 – The UN Refugee Agency has released a report indicating that the number of new arrivals to South Sudan from Sudan has exceeded 100,000, emphasizing the need for continued attention from the international community.

Raouf Mazou, the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at UNHCR, has urged the international community not to overlook the situation in South Sudan.

The conflict in Sudan, which commenced on April 15, has prompted a significant influx of individuals crossing the border into South Sudan on a daily basis. The majority of these individuals are South Sudanese returnees, compelled to come back to their home country due to prevailing circumstances.

Additionally, the UN has noted that alongside the returnees, there are refugees from Sudan as well as individuals of various nationalities, all of whom have been generously welcomed by the South Sudanese government.

The unique nature of the situation in South Sudan is highlighted by Mr. Mazou, who points out that the majority of arrivals are South Sudanese returning to their communities, which continue to grapple with insecurity and face severe limitations in terms of services and infrastructure.

The arduous journeys undertaken by those escaping the violence have resulted in their arrival in remote border towns like Renk, where prices for essential goods have skyrocketed.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, UNHCR and IOM are jointly leading the response efforts in collaboration with the government. Alongside their partners, they are actively monitoring 27 border points across the country and have established transit centers in key locations to provide immediate life-saving assistance to vulnerable new arrivals.

The level of violence has escalated significantly since the outbreak of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15. In comparison to the preceding five weeks, the intensity of the violence has tripled.

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