UNHCR mobilizes to help people fleeing Sudan for neighboring countries
GOOBJOOG NEWS | GENEVA: The United Nations Refugee Agency has said it has scaled up efforts to assist people seeking safety in countries neighboring Sudan where fighting between two military factions has triggered massive displacement of people.
According to the agency, the most significant cross-border movements in the region have been Sudanese fleeing to Chad, and South Sudanese refugees returning to South Sudan and a few others arriving in Egypt.
“Some of the population movements we expect to observe in the coming days include outflows of new Sudanese refugees to neighboring countries, returns of refugees who were being hosted by Sudan, and movements of other refugees being hosted by Sudan to other neighboring countries,” the agency adds in a statement.
The organization said it is working with partners and governments in the region to assess the needs of the newly arrived and to prepare a joint response.
“We thank them for continuing to keep their borders open to those fleeing Sudan – whether to seek international protection or to return to their countries of origin.”
Pre-registration activities
UNHCR revealed that the Government of Chad and UNHCR have initiated pre-registration activities to identify new arrivals and assess their needs and that since the beginning of the fighting, at least 20,000 refugees have fled across the border into Chad.
The Organization further says it is bolstering supplies of core relief items, including sleeping mats, soap and cooking utensils, for 20,000 refugees. Refugees are sheltering under trees and lack clean water and food.
“Planning is underway to relocate families to an existing refugee camp further from the border, while a new location is being identified to host additional arrivals. More than 400,000 Sudanese refugees are already hosted across 13 camps and among local communities in eastern Chad.”
Cross border monitoring
In South Sudan, the UNHCR says its teams together with partners, have been at border crossing points to monitor new arrivals and provide help saying they have so far registered nearly 4,000 South Sudanese that have crossed from Sudan, mostly through the Renk border crossing point in Upper Nile State.
“Many of those who have arrived have had the means to pay for transportation from Khartoum and to continue their travel inside South Sudan. They have told our teams that a large number of fellow nationals are trying to reach the border on foot,” the organization says.
There are over 800,000 South Sudanese refugees in Sudan, a quarter of whom are in Khartoum and directly affected by the fighting.
- By Fauxile Kibet