Residents of Lasu Payam in Yei River County, Central Equatoria, have refused to host refugees from the Nuba Mountains.

The United Nations refugee agency is requesting them to host more than 45 families fleeing violence from the Sudan.

But the residents say they are already overwhelmed by Congolese refugees.

They say that the presence of Congolese refugees has resulted in deforestation, exploitation of local resources and land pressure.

“This place is not enough for other refugees. That land is only fit for the Congolese refugees. The new ones should be taken back. This is what we have agreed because our place is too small,” said Justine Modi, head chief of the area.

However, UNHCR says the farmlands allocated to the Congolese refugees are enough to host the new arrivals from the Nuba Mountains.

“When we brought them here, we did ask for an extra land. It’s the same place where the Congolese refugees are staying and there are still empty places,” Martin Lo-Matayo, field manager, told Eye Radio.

“Those people suffering in the town are women and children with no husbands here.”

There are over ten thousand refugees camping at Lasu Payam at the border with Congo.