25,000 South Sudanese Refugees in White Nile State in April

Moatinoon
White Nile State has seen an increase in the number of refugees and asylum seekers arriving from South Sudan. According to the UNHCR, approximately 25,400 South Sudanese refugees, the majority of whom are women and children, have crossed into the state since April.

In an update today, the UNHCR said that most of the South Sudanese arriving are fleeing from the Wadi Dakona, Aburji, Tonj, Kodok, Malakal, Wau Shilluk, Oya, Wantong, Renk, and Geiger areas of Upper Nile State, South Sudan, and are crossing the Almegenis, Alkuek, and Goda border points. The majority of the new arrivals are from the Nuer and Shilluk tribes.

The UNHCR attributed the waves of displacement to insecurity, intercommunal violence, and the overall deteriorating humanitarian situation in Upper Nile State.

UNHCR expressed its readiness to begin the identification process for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers in the camps and at the Jouda reception center, once the authorities complete the screening process. "This identification will enable verification of population numbers and the collection of basic protection information on new arrivals before they are registered in UNHCRs database," the agency said.

UNHCR and its partners have identified existing collective shelters in the Al-Jamia and Khor al-Waral refugee camps, and additional land in the Umm Singour refugee camp, to accommodate the new arrivals.