Aid agencies require $26.4m to assist people fleeing Sudan: UN
A Sudanese family take shelter at a refugee entry point close to the Chadian border with Sudan (WFP)
July 26, 2023 (NEW YORK) – The humanitarian community urgently requires $26.4 million to continue providing transportation support to civilians fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan until end of 2023, the United Nations said.
Since the outbreak of fighting in Sudan on 15 April, over 193,000 people have crossed into South Sudan, with numbers of new arrivals significantly rising in June.
Approximately 15,000 individuals arrive from Sudan weekly, aid agencies say.
Also, 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,” Peter Van der Auweraert, the acting humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan said Tuesday.
The national and state authorities are 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 already concerns that funds are dwindling rapidly and without new funding, humanitarian agencies will be forced to halt transportation assistance.
In addition, those fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan are already vulnerable.
Meanwhile, 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.
According to the humanitarian community, an estimated 9.4 million people are projected to be in need of humanitarian and protection assistance in 2023.
South Sudan continues to be the most violent context for humanitarian workers. Since the beginning of 2023, three aid workers have lost their lives while on duty.
(ST)