Conflict in Sudan fueling humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, UN warns

Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (centre). He is at war with RSF rebels. [AFP]

The ongoing conflict in Sudan is worsening the already severe humanitarian crisis in South Sudan for refugees and the communities hosting them, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned in a pilot survey released Monday.

The socioeconomic survey shows that those forced to flee to South Sudan often arrive in rural areas with limited basic services, high unemployment rates, a lack of education opportunities, poor infrastructure, and overcrowded shelters.

Marie-Helene Verney, UNHCR representative in South Sudan, said millions of South Sudanese live below the poverty line, and the war in Sudan is taking a heavy toll on South Sudan's economy.

"In this context, integrating refugees is particularly challenging, and it is crucial that we now link humanitarian assistance to stabilization and development programs to the extent possible," Verney said.

The findings of the UNHCR's first-ever Forced Displacement Survey conducted between April and December 2023 on some 3,100 households in South Sudan show that refugees and hosting communities face similar challenges that aggravate protection risks and limit self-reliance opportunities.

According to the UNHCR, South Sudan hosts more than 460,000 refugees, mainly from Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia. Most refugees live in the northern area and have been in the country for over a decade.

Since the war started in Sudan more than a year ago, South Sudan has been receiving an average of 1,600 people a day, including refugees from Sudan and South Sudanese returning to a country many of them have never lived in, the UNHCR said.

It reveals that food insecurity remains the most pressing issue, with about 74 percent of both refugees and host community households surveyed reporting hunger in the previous month.

Over two-fifths of both groups saw their incomes from all sources fall relative to the previous year.

The UNHCR said the current crisis in Sudan has driven large numbers of refugees and returnees into South Sudan, increasing the refugee population in areas already impacted by sporadic intercommunal violence and overstretched services.

South Sudan's economy has been further disrupted by the war in the neighboring country, particularly resulting from the closure of the country's main oil pipeline, according to the UN.

The UN refugee agency said record-high water levels in Lake Victoria and forecasts of above-average rainfall across the region in the coming weeks threaten to exacerbate an already dire situation.

It said severe and persistent flooding over previous years has seriously damaged crops, agricultural lands, and farming infrastructure, impacting food production and livelihoods.

Verney said the world needs to invest in the young population in South Sudan and give them the tools and opportunities to build a better future.

"Despite the challenges, the government of South Sudan has opened its doors to provide safety to those fleeing war. But overstretched resources can easily translate into tension. Substantive long-term investments are crucial to improving the well-being of refugees and the communities hosting them," she said.