The Assistant Representative for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in South Sudan, Geoff Wordley, told Miraya FM that at the moment UNHCR has no access to refugees around the border due to insecurity. Mr. Wordley said that there is a new influx of refugees into Western Equatoria State in the last few days. He did not further elaborate on the figures.
He said that due to insecurity near the border, UNHCR has started moving refugees away from some affected areas to the refugee camp in Western Equatoria State.
Obviously the security situation prevents us or World Vision or civilian agents from accessing some of these areas. We are continuing to do the distribution where we can access. As I said our main priority now is to move the population away from the areas where they are vulnerable to be caught in the fighting so that we can assist them in the area that we have chosen with the government of Western Equatoria."
Mr. Geoff Wordley also confirmed that the UNHCR has decided to stop temporarily repatriation of refugees in the southern part of Central Equatoria State due to alleged LRA movement in the area.
"We have been receiving reports LRA body moving through southern part of Central Equatoria and this has been confirmed by number of different reports and therefore we are taking decision now to stop the return of refugees from Uganda at the moment to southern part of Central Equatoria."