The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed concern over the escalation of armed conflict in South Sudan's Upper Nile state, which has displaced at least 20,000 people since August, some of whom have been forced to flee for their lives up to four times. In a statement Wednesday, the UN agency warned that at least 3,000 people have already fled to neighboring Sudan, further exacerbating the refugee crisis in South Sudan, the largest in Africa.
The armed conflict erupted in the village of Tonga in Upper Nile on 15 August 2022. Violence has since spread further in Upper Nile, northern parts of Jonglei and Unity states. It is currently advancing in Upper Nile’s Fashoda county and is threatening the town of Kodok. UNHCR says desperation is rising, and more people are fleeing as conflict intensifies.
According to the UN agency, women and children and others at high risk make up the majority of those displaced. Some older people or those with disabilities have been unable to flee, compelled to hide in bushes and along the White Nile River during attacks. Fleeing civilians are visibly traumatized and report killings, injuries, gender-based violence, abductions, extortion, looting and burning of properties. Many have lost their homes and been separated from their families.
UNHCR and humanitarian partners have scaled up their response to provide life-saving support to the most vulnerable including in hard-to-reach areas with shelter, relief items, protection services, cash, and other assistance.
“By using boats to expand our mobile response capacity, UNHCR can now reach people faster and more easily, including in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Despite UNHCR’s support for efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote peace, the situation continues to deteriorate”, the statement said.
South Sudan is in the midst of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis driven by years of brutal civil war. With 4.6 million people forcibly displaced, South Sudan has the highest proportion - 40 percent - of its population displaced of any country in Africa. Nearly 2.5 million people have fled to neighboring countries. Continued insecurity across Upper Nile State is still forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes.
The country is also facing a major hunger crisis due to armed conflict, localized violence, dramatic flooding, worsening food insecurity and economic destabilization. Currently some 6.6 million people - 57% of South Sudan’s population - are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity. The UN estimates that 9.4 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2023, an increase of half a million people compared to 2022.
While more people are fleeing violence and needs are surging, the UN Refugee Agency is scaling up its operations amidst a severe funding shortfall. By the end of November, just 46 per cent of the US$ 214.8 million needed in 2022 had been received.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to assist and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. The organization is known by its short name the UN Refugee Agency. UNHCR was established on December 14, 1950, by the United Nations General Assembly to provide assistance to refugees resulting from World War II. On January 1, 1951, UNHCR began its work. Each year, the UN Refugee Agency helps millions of refugees and displaced persons worldwide. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the UN agency maintains offices in 134 countries.
Further information
Full text: Thousands displaced by escalating conflict in South Sudan’s Greater Upper Nile Region, UNHCR press release, published December 7, 2022
https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2022/12/63905eca4/thousands-displaced-escalating-conflict-south-sudans-greater-upper-nile.html
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