Thousands flee Sudan conflict into South Sudan daily

December 24, 2024 (JODA) – Thousands of people are fleeing conflict in Sudan’s Blue Nile, Sennar, and White Nile states into South Sudan daily, with the majority arriving in recent weeks, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Monday.

Headcounts conducted along the Joda border and in communities hosting arrivals from informal border crossings estimate 82,516 refugees and returnees across eight remote locations.

“Since early December, an average of 3,000 refugees and returnees arrive at Renk County daily, over half via the informal border crossings,” the UNHCR said in a statement.

Most arrivals entering via the Joda border point are South Sudanese returnees from refugee camps across White Nile State. In contrast, those entering via unofficial crossings are mainly Sudanese nationals from Sennar and Blue Nile states.

The UNHCR said that health workers in Renk County Hospital have treated over 200 weapon-wounded individuals, with three reported fatalities. Additional tents have been set up, and medical capacity expanded.

The security situation at the Joda official border point has improved following the resumption of humanitarian activities on December 10. As of December 20, new arrivals had decreased to approximately 3,000 per day across all border crossings combined.

“Upon entering via these points, new arrivals set up informal sites across eight arrival locations in host community villages,” the UNHCR said. “Those arriving have already established makeshift shelters and prefer to remain in these hosting sites, integrating into the local community.”

The UNHCR said that the hostilities in Sudan, including areas close to the border with South Sudan, continued, leading to more displacement. On December 19, three World Food Programme (WFP) staff were killed in an aerial bombardment in Blue Nile State.