In a world plagued by conflict and humanitarian crises, the recent tragedy of nearly 80,000 people fleeing violence in Sudan to seek refuge in South Sudan in less than three weeks raises fundamental questions about the international response to the suffering of vulnerable populations. This massive flow of refugees and returnees, mostly women and children, illustrates the devastation in Sudan’s White Nile, Sennar and Blue Nile states.
The harrowing account of Nyarob, a returnee to South Sudan, captures the urgency of the situation in the region: “It was not safe at all. When the army came, gunshots rang out, and a lot of chaos ensued. I immediately took my children and headed to the Joda border with others because we needed a safe place for our children.” »
At the Joda border and in surrounding villages, resources are stretched thin. Makeshift shelters are hosting the displaced, and malnutrition rates are above emergency thresholds. Access to clean water and sanitation is severely lacking, increasing the risk of disease spread.
Silva Alkebeh, head of supply logistics at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), testifies to the scale of the humanitarian crisis: “Just two weeks ago, this place was almost empty. We built the reception centre for a few hundred people. Now, we have over 5,000 refugees and returnees housed at the border, and many more along the road. People are having to share very limited resources.”
Despite efforts to scale up assistance, the humanitarian response remains woefully underfunded. UNHCR warns that without additional resources, vital assistance and support for displaced people and host communities will remain insufficient.
This situation reminds us of the urgent need for the international community to mobilize in support of these displaced populations who are in desperate need of assistance and protection. The duty of assistance and solidarity towards the most vulnerable cannot be ignored. It is time to act in a concerted and effective manner to end the suffering of these people torn apart by conflict and violence.