Facilitate safe arrival for people fleeing Sudan conflict, says Kiir
April 24, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir has instructed the army, police and national security forces to facilitate the safe reception of South Sudanese and other nationals fleeing the current conflict in Sudan.
Addressing the command military council on Saturday, Kiir urged the army, security and police to work together to protect the lives and properties of those seeking refuge, as well as to guard against foreign incursion and aggression.
The South Sudanese leader said they ensure the free movement and settlement of the refugees, regardless of their areas of origin in any region of South Sudan.
An influx of South Sudanese has already been reported in states bordering Sudan.
Local reports also indicate an influx of South Sudanese returning home after fleeing fighting in 2013 and 2016, as well as those who failed to return after South Sudan’s secession from Sudan in 2011.
At least 427 people have died across Sudan, with over 3,700 injured as result of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.
The clashes, which started in April 15, have shown no sign of letting up in Sudan’s capital despite repeated calls for ceasefire from the international community.
OCHA said an aid worker from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) was killed two days ago after the “vehicle he was traveling in with his family south of El Obeid, North Kordofan, was caught in a crossfire between warring parties”.
The UN humanitarian agency further cited an increase in displacements due to fighting and dwindling basic commodities have also been reported across the states of Khartoum, El Gezira, Sennar, White Nile, River Nile and El Gedaref areas.
Reports estimated that between 7,500 and 8,000 people have been displaced from El Obeid and are currently seeking refuge, following fierce SAF-RSF clashes.
In North Darfur’s capital of El Fasher, about10, 000 to 20,000 displaced people, most of whom were women and children reportedly arrived in Chad on Friday.
Armed clashes between SAF and RSF erupted on April 15 in heavily populated parts of the capital, Khartoum and spread to other cities, including Darfur region. The clashes follow weeks of rising tensions between the two forces over security force reform during negotiations for a new transitional government and was preceded by the SAF and RSF jointly overthrowing Sudan’s transitional government in October 2021.
(ST)