South Sudanese refugees in Sudan exceed 100,000

October 15, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The number of South Sudanese who sought refuge in Sudan since the start of hostilities in the new nation last year has exceeded 100,000.

According to a report released by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on 8 October some 100,492 South Sudanese are now in the neighbouring Sudan. They joined 350,000 of their fellow citizens who have remained there after the independence in July 2011.

The agency expects that the number of refugees will rise to 165,000 by the end of 2014.

The South Sudanese refugees, according to the report, are mainly concentrated in Khartoum state where there are 29,800 people.

An assessment done by Khartoum state and UNHR found that the new arrivals are generally accommodated by their relatives in Sudan.

However UN refugee agency estimate that around 40, 000 people are living in “camp-like sites” called open areas.

Sudanese authorities refuse to allow the UNHCR to register the South Sudanese refugees and to establish camps for them, saying they are treated like Sudanese citizens and have the right to settle and work where they want.

But UN humanitarian officials insist on the need to register them and to launch a joint call for humanitarian aid in order to get humanitarian assistance to the South Sudanese refugees.

The South Sudanese community in Khartoum “requires assistance in terms of shelter, livelihoods, education and access to safe water and sanitation,” says the UN agency.

(ST)