Yahya Ibrahim Suleiman, 41, narrates his journey to South Sudan amidst the conflict in Sudan. Tuesday, June 20, 2023. | Photo: Charles Wote/Eye Radio

The deadly fighting that erupted in Khartoum two months ago has since left millions of Sudanese in shambles, but for some like Yahya Ibrahim who have sought sanctuary in countries like South Sudan, there is but a little hope for the future.

Yahya Ibrahim Suleiman and his pregnant wife fled to South Sudan in May 2023, but the family only arrived in Juba on June 16 – having undertaken a risky journey to Renk in northern Upper Nile State where they were stranded.

Mr. Suleiman, 41, and his spouse Amal Zachariah Osman were forced out of the Sudanese capital Khartoum amidst the escalating violence between forces of rival commanders battling for power.

“It took us 15 days from Khartoum to Rabak, and from there somebody I knew in Jebelen gave me a Rickshaw and I worked for 9 days to get money then we came to Jauoda and took a car to Renk,” he narrates to Eye Radio in an interview during World Refugee Day.

In Renk, they had first settled in the market and stayed there for two day as there was no place to settle.

“We did not have a place or even know a person there, then I and my wife sold our phones to get money to come to Juba,” Suleiman said.

At least one million refugees and migrants mainly from the region have sought refuge in South Sudan, according to government data.

On the other hand, the country recovering from a vicious civil war – has nearly 2.3 million citizens in refugees camps and millions of others internally displaced by floods and other factors, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Suleiman is among thousands of the new arrivals of Sudanese refugees being camped at Gorom Refugees Settlement west of Juba.

The settlement alone hosts over 5,000 refugees from different nationalities including Sudanese, Congolese, Ethiopians, and Burundians, according to UNHCR.

“We really suffered in Khartoum and there was no business where you can earn an income,” Suleiman said further.

The 41-year-old said Khartoum experience was horrific as he recalls a bombs that exploded in his neighbor’s house.

He also said armed groups broke into his house and looted “all our properties at gunpoint.”

“Everyone in the area was evacuated, so we sold out some of our furniture and decided to come to South Sudan where there is peace and stability.”

South Sudan – whose refugee crisis is Africa’s largest – on Tuesday joined the rest of the World to commemorate World Refugee Day under the theme: “Hopes Away from Home!”

The commemoration comes at a time were tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees are fleeing into the country from the northern border amid an ongoing fighting.

Since Suleiman and his expectant wife arrived in Gorom five days ago, their situation has been deteriorating as they have not been registered.

The couple has lost everything and have no proper shelter from rain and other extreme weather events.

“We have 5 days since we arrived here, and since our arrival, we have not been registered yet, we do not have anything.”

“We don’t have anything no shelters, no water, no food nothing.”

Suleiman is also suffering from asthma – a chronic respiratory condition that affects the airways in the lungs – making it difficult to breathe.

“I do not have money to get medication and with the wet weather, I really suffered but thank God,” he decried.

On her part, UNHCR Country Representative Marie Helene said they are putting more efforts in scaling up basic service at the settlement.

Ms. Helene further said the agency and partners are intending to provide shelter to the new arrivals, but that this will delay due to the influx of more returnees and refugees at the South Sudan – Sudan border.

“One of our priorities is we need to help the people who are stuck in Renk to be able to move so we really battling on several fronts now,” she said speaking to Eye Radio June 20.

“Refugees that are arriving will all get one shelter per family but obviously it takes time.”