The refugees, mainly women, children and a growing number of older people, have escaped conflict and hardship in Sudan's Blue Nile state, but the influx is likely to slow when the rains come.

Aftermath of Yida clashes

Following the 16 March clashes between South Sudanese law enforcement officials and unknown armed elements in the north-eastern section of Yida settlement, local authorities reported that one police officer was killed along with one infant and one civilian while several others were injured.

That incident highlights UNHCR’s repeated concerns about refugees residing close to a contested border in a highly militarized zone and the presence of armed elements, both of which severely compromises the civilian character of the settlement.

12/24/2012 14:34 GMT

KHARTOUM, Dec 24, 2012 (AFP) - An airlift from Khartoum of sick, elderly and other "extremely vulnerable" South Sudanese, suspended after a November plane crash, re-started on Christmas Eve Monday, the International Organisation for Migration said.

"We are resuming the flights," and 101 passengers took off from the Sudanese capital in two trips Monday to Aweil in the South's Northern Bahr El Ghazal state, said Filiz Demir, an IOM official.

HIGHLIGHTS

• An outbreak of violence sparked by protests in Western Bahr el Ghazal State led to the death of nine people in Wau.

• A recent HIV assessment carried out by UNAIDS indicates that adults in refugee, returnee and displaced communities in Unity, Upper Nile and Western Equatoria are at high risk of contracting HIV.

• Aid organizations activated contingency plans to respond to a new wave of refugees into Unity and Upper Nile states, as arrival numbers increase.

UNHCR and IOM, in collaboration with the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan, today (6/11) started airlifting 1,370 extremely vulnerable South Sudanese from the Sudanese capital Khartoum to Aweil in South Sudan's Northern Bahr El Ghazal State.

The IOM-managed airlift, which is expected to comprise two 47-seat charter flights a day over the next two weeks, will support extremely vulnerable South Sudanese individuals (EVIs) and their families to return to South Sudan.

At Jamam refugee camp in Upper Nile state, South Sudan, living conditions have been worsening for the refugees fleeing violence in Sudan's Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

In Jully, Jamam, already home to more than 18,000 refugees uprooted from their homes since the war broke out in the two states in May last year, were submerged in water.

A WORD from the Global Protection Cluster

Coordinator

MORNING

28 September 2012

Adopts Texts on the Human Rights of Older Persons and Indigenous Peoples and on the Situation in Mali and in South Sudan

HIGHLIGHTS

• In South Kordofan, 21 civilians reported killed following renewed fighting.

• In Central Darfur, the number of people affected by recent floods has risen to 26,000, according to humanitarian organisations on the ground.

• In Kutum town, North Darfur, two international NGOs relocate staff following resumption of violence.