KHARTOUM (HAN) May 19.2016. Public Diplomacy & Regional Security News. Latest report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said plans are underway to mobilize resources as more South Sudanese refugees have been crossing into Sudan from Bahr el Ghazal region in South Sudan.
Since late January 2016, there has been a surge in the number of South Sudanese fleeing into Sudan. As of 12 May, about 45,500 refugees had arrived in East Darfur, of whom some 28,100 are in Khor Omer internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp, of Ed Daein locality.
Over 69,000 South Sudanese have arrived in various locations in Sudan since January 2016 as a consequence to the continued insecurity in the region and food shortage in the South Sudan.
UNHCR and other partners said they have been mobilizing nearly $50 million US dollars in order to provide humanitarian assistance to the populations.
“A response plan for the new influx has been developed by humanitarian partners and UNHCR, outlining priority response measures and financial requirements up to the end of June 2016. The plan covers response activities in East and South Darfur, West Kordofan and White Nile and amounts to a total of US$49 million, of which $29.5 million is for East Darfur,” the report, extended to Sudan Tribune, reads in part.
New arrivals are mostly coming from South Sudan’s Northern Bahr El Ghazal and Warrap states.
The report indicated that while rates of arrival in May have slowed compared to previous months, recent food security assessments suggested South Sudan will face a more severe lean season (May-September) in 2016 than in previous years.
It however said the humanitarian situation in Khor Omer camp has improved since the initial phase of the influx, but remains critical.
“Basic humanitarian assistance across all major sectors has been provided, including food, emergency household supplies and nutritional support,” it said.
Despite daily water trucking, a shortage of water persists, said the report. Distribution of shelters is planned to commence once families are relocated to a new site, as erection of shelters in Khor Omer has not been permitted.
The land for the establishment of a new site to host the refugees has been identified and permission to use the land has been granted by both local administration and state authorities. Once the decision and process is confirmed at the federal level, said the report, arrangements will be put in place for the organized relocation of people to the new site.
On 10 and 11 May, the first inter-agency mission to access some of the areas outside Ed Daein hosting refugees was conducted to Abu Jabra, Bahr El Arab and El Ferdous localities.
Preliminary findings from the mission indicate over 6,800 refugees are residing throughout the three localities, mainly in Abu Jabra locality, which is about 1,100 more than previously estimated.
The South Sudanese refugees said hunger and insecurity in the new nation forced them to migrate across the border into Sudan, the country from which South Sudan split in July 2011 and established its independence.
Leave a Reply