Aid agencies call for funds to support people fleeing Sudan
July 25, 2023 (JUBA) – The humanitarian community in South Sudan is calling for urgent funding to ensure that continued support for onward transportation for people fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan to neighbouring South Sudan.
Since the outbreak of hostilities on 15 April, over 193,000 people have crossed into South Sudan, with the number of new arrivals surging significantly in June.
Approximately 15,000 individuals arrive from Sudan weekly, aid agencies say.
Over 70% of the arrivals reportedly enter South Sudan through Renk’s Wunthow border entry point, of whom the vast majority are South Sudanese nationals. With no end to the Sudan conflict in sight, it is expected that the number of people seeking refuge in South Sudan will continue to rise in the coming period.
“Many of those arriving in South Sudan are increasingly vulnerable with no financial resources to continue their journey inside the country,” said Peter Van der Auweraert, the acting humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan.
The national and state authorities working with the humanitarian community have been able to provide onward transportation assistance to those without means to enable them reach their final destinations either by road, river or air.
There are concerns that funds are dwindling rapidly and without new funding, aid agencies will be forced to halt transportation assistance in two weeks time.
Aid agencies say should the required funding not be secured, the consequences will be extremely severe, impacting the wellbeing and safety of returnees and refugees as well as South Sudanese in the affected border areas.
“It is quite straightforward, every day support for onward transportation is unavailable, hundreds more will become stranded in and around border towns like Renk, with already overstretched humanitarian services becoming overwhelmed within a matter of days, not weeks,” warned Van der Auweraert.
“Unless we find a way to continue supporting onward transportation, we will soon be in a situation whereby the living conditions for people arriving become ever more dire and the occurrence of tensions and conflict over scarce resources ever more likely,” he added.
As a result, the humanitarian partners in South Sudan urgently require $26.4 million to continue providing transportation support until the end of the year.
“South Sudan needs additional support from international donors, and that the National Authorities restart their support for onward transportation. Only a joint effort will avoid the humanitarian catastrophe we are all afraid of,” said Van der Auweraet.
An estimated 9.4 million people are projected to need humanitarian and protection assistance in 2023, aid agencies say.
Since the beginning of 2023, three aid workers have lost their lives while on duty.
(ST)