Attachments
Surge in Arrivals to South Sudan
40,000+ estimated new arrivals to South Sudan in the last week
875,000 new arrivals to South Sudan since April 2023
400,000 South Sudanese refugees in While Nile State, Sudan
Highlights
- With freshconflict erupting in the White Nile State of Sudan, South Sudan has received a surge in new arrivalsin the last week, with some20,000 Sudanese refugees arriving from villages in border areas. Since Saturday, there have been an additional estimated 7,000 –10,000new arrivals each day, with larger numbers of South Sudanese refugees leaving thecamps where they have been residing in Sudanand returning to South Sudan.It is difficult toestablishthe figures asmanyarrivals in the past week havebeen through informal border crossing pointsin addition to theJoda border; all numbers are estimates at this time.
- Due to the deteriorating security situation in Al Jabalain localityin White NileStateand fighting in Joda border areas,humanitarian partners in South Sudan hadpaused operationsover the weekendat the Joda reception centre. Amidstafluid and volatile situation, UNHCR and partners resumedactivities on 10 Decemberwith strengthened security measures,following a mission to theborder on 9 Decemberby UNDSS and UNHCRto assess conditions.
- The team found the situation at the border to berelativelycalm, but withthousands of people walking along the 40 km road between the border and the town of Renk.Families had also stopped by theside of the road with some receiving food and water from local communities.
- White Nile State in Sudan hosts over 400,000 South Sudanese refugees in 10 refugee campsand more than 650,000 internally displaced Sudanese who have fled conflict in other partsof the country.
- South Sudanese refugee community leaders in Sudan report population movements have taken placeboth within Sudan (movements from the 2 most affected camps to the 7 camps on the other side of the Nile that remain unaffected) and towards South Sudan, following the presence of armed actors in and around refugee camps in White Nile State. Some refugees have reportedly relocated to areas close to the South Sudan border, with the intent of monitoring the situation and potentially returning when conditions stabilize.
- IDPs in Sudan have been movingfrom gathering sitesin Al Jabalain localitytoto Rabak and Kosti towns,andfurther afield toSennar and South Kordofan States.
- Some of themovement inside Sudanisconsidered to bepreventive innature, based on a fear of further incursions, possible aerial bombardments or shelling, or escalation of open conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)and Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
- In Sudan,temporaryrestrictions on staff movements are in placein White Nile State. Reduction of UNHCR’s operational footprint is under consideration.