UN: Number of refugees displaced by conflict in Sudan now 500,000

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says the number of displaced persons seeking refuge in South Sudan from the conflict in neighbouring Sudan has surged to 500,000.

Marie-Helene Verney, UNHCR representative in South Sudan, said the figure has almost doubled since last year.

Verney spoke on Friday while highlighting the escalating impact of the crisis in the region.

She noted that South Sudan has received the second-largest number of people fleeing Sudan, with more than 810,000 individuals arriving since the conflict began in mid-April 2023.

“The refugee population in South Sudan has almost doubled in less than 18 months, and we expect worse to come,” she said.

“The conflict in Sudan is hitting South Sudan harder than any other country in the region and adds to the immense challenges the nation is facing.”

Verney said the UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations were at the forefront of the response and urged others to join efforts to help the country integrate the hundreds of thousands of new arrivals.

“It is clear, however, that the only solution is the end of the conflict in Sudan; South Sudan is reeling from the shock and cannot continue to absorb so much suffering,’’ she said.

The UNHCR assured that it is collaborating with South Sudan’s relevant agencies and partners to continue supporting new arrivals and host communities.

The UN agency is also advocating for long-term solutions for refugees and asylum seekers including access to identity documentation, livelihood opportunities, and integration into national systems such as health and education.