Aaron Adkins, the Emergency Coordinator -IOM South Sudan. (Courtesy).

An official of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) expressed concerns on Thursday over the plight of South Sudanese refugees who have been blockaded amid the war in Sudan.

This statement comes three days after some South Sudanese refugees in Sudan’s White Nile State decried a worsening humanitarian situation characterized by little assistance and confinement in camps.

The refugees residing at Kashafa and Redis 2 refugee Eye Radio that they were unable to return home as the warring factions in Sudan have restricted them in makeshift settlements with insufficient humanitarian aid.

They told Eye Radio the restrictions deny them a chance to maneuver their way back to South Sudan.

The refugees called on the South Sudan government and relief agencies to facilitate their return to South Sudan amid a dire situation as the months of war drag on.

In a recorded statement emailed to Eye Radio, IOM’s Emergency Coordinator, Aaron Adkins said the UN agency has been monitoring the situation in Sudan which continues to worsen for civilians.

He said the UN agency is very concerned about South Sudanese who have remained there during the months of conflict between rival military factions.

Mr. Adkins, however, stated that the stranded South Sudanese refugees do not fall within his realm to address their situation.

“IOM has been monitoring the situation in Sudan as it continues to deteriorate, and we have expressed concern regarding civilians in the country especially those South Sudanese who remained there,” he said.

“We will continue to support people who are stranded in Renk or the border areas as they come across, but for those who are in Sudan blockaded as the article said, this is not the within area of what IOM South Sudan can address.”

According to the latest media reports, White Nile still represents one of the most under-served and neglected regions in the humanitarian responses in Sudan.

According to the UN humanitarian agency, more than 500,000 people have fled Sudan to South Sudan since the conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Force (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) on April 15, 2023.