By William Madouk
Over 50,000 people including returnees and refugees have crossed to South Sudan, fleeing the Sudan conflict according to the latest figures the government documented.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs & Disaster Management, Albino Akol Atak stated that majority of these war victims who have entered the country are South Sudanese returnees.
“The people who have crossed, since people started moving to South Sudan; we are talking about more than 50,000 both refugees and returnees,” Akol said during his media briefing yesterday.
“Majority are returnees who have entered through Renk and other 12 entry points,” he added.
Mr. Akol said that they are coordinating with all the stakeholders and partners to take up the processes and serve people who are in dire humanitarian needs.
“We are coordinating with our partners, they are providing humanitarian assistance and setting up temporary reception centers and proved them [war victims] with shelters,” he noted.
Minister Albino Akol said, government and partners designed temporary shelters for those fleeing the war in Sudan, and the target for people to be evacuated every month is placed at 180,000 people.
Meanwhile, the country director for International Recuse Committee (IRC) in Juba, Caroline Sekyewa said people who fled Sudan war are very devastated.
“Following intense conflict in Sudan, more than 50,000 people are estimated to have fled to South Sudan since the fighting began. People are arriving traumatized and with very little provisions,” Sekyewa noted.
The IRC is among organizations providing protection and health services to displaced people in Maban, Jamjang and Northern Bahr El Ghazal.
According to humanitarian reports, there are fears that the situation is likely to exacerbate, especially in a country as South Sudan where an estimated 9.4 million people are projected to be in need of humanitarian assistance and protection services.
Lately, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), reported that more than 30,300 people including returnees, Sudanese refugees and other nationals have crossed into the country.
It also noted that over 90 percent enter through Joda and Renk in Upper Nile State.