The ongoing war in Sudan, which began in April 2023 between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), has driven over one million people to seek refuge in neighbouring South Sudan, according to the United Nations.
The latest figures, released by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), reveal that more than 770,000 individuals have crossed into South Sudan through the Joda crossing on its northern border over the past 21 months. Tens of thousands more have entered through other points, bringing the total number of arrivals to over one million.
Sanaa Abdalla Omer of the UNHCR described the situation as “a stark and sobering statistic” that highlights the mounting scale of the crisis. She praised the extraordinary generosity of the South Sudanese people, who continue to welcome those fleeing the conflict despite having limited resources themselves.
Challenges for South Sudan
Many of the refugees entering South Sudan are South Sudanese nationals who had fled their country’s own civil war, only to return due to the escalating violence in Sudan.
In Renk County, two transit centres designed to accommodate fewer than 5,000 people are now sheltering more than 16,000, underscoring the severe strain on infrastructure and resources.
The UN has warned that essential services in South Sudan, such as healthcare, water, and shelter, have become “dangerously overstretched.” The call for international assistance is urgent, as host communities are increasingly unable to bear the burden of supporting the displaced population alone.
War crimes and famine in Sudan
As the conflict in Sudan approaches its second anniversary, both the RSF and SAF continue to trade accusations of war crimes, including the targeting of civilians and indiscriminate shelling of residential areas. These actions have caused tens of thousands of deaths and devastated civilian infrastructure.
The humanitarian toll has been catastrophic, with at least 25 million people—half the country’s population—now facing severe hunger and in desperate need of aid. According to a recent report by the UN-backed Famine Review Committee of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), famine conditions have been confirmed in several areas, including Sudan’s largest displacement camp, Zamzam, in North Darfur province.
Additionally, famine has been reported in Abu Shouk and al-Salam camps for internally displaced people in the besieged city of el-Fasher, North Darfur’s capital. Residential and displaced communities in the Nuba Mountains in southern Sudan are also experiencing famine-like conditions, further compounding the country’s humanitarian crisis.
Humanitarian appeal
In response to the dire situation, humanitarian organisations have called for increased international support to address both the needs of displaced people and the pressures on host communities in South Sudan.
Omer emphasised that while South Sudan’s people have demonstrated remarkable compassion, they cannot shoulder the immense responsibility of hosting over a million refugees without significant external assistance. “Resources are stretched to breaking point, and the global community must step up,” she said.
The UN and its partners are advocating for immediate funding to bolster healthcare, food supplies, shelter, and water facilities in the region. Without urgent action, the fragile systems in South Sudan could collapse, exacerbating the suffering of those fleeing Sudan’s unrelenting conflict.
Looking ahead
As the war continues to devastate Sudan and uproot millions of lives, the plight of refugees and host communities in South Sudan serves as a poignant reminder of the far-reaching consequences of conflict. With no end to the fighting in sight, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and provide relief to those most affected.
For the displaced individuals who have endured unimaginable hardships, the hope of safety and stability remains tenuous. Yet, the resilience and generosity of South Sudan’s people stand as a testament to the power of human solidarity in the face of adversity.
