Aid agency Oxfam says an evacuation order issued for Akobo County has forced about 37,000 people to flee across the border into Ethiopia’s Gambella Region.

Last Friday, the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces ordered United Nations Mission in South Sudan and humanitarian agencies to evacuate Akobo County within 72 hours.

According to Oxfam, the new arrivals are adding pressure to Gambella, which already hosts more than 450,000 South Sudanese refugees. The organization says around 78,000 people had already crossed into the region earlier in January, further straining humanitarian resources.

Alfred Chandonga, a local Oxfam project manager who was also forced to flee, described the situation as heartbreaking, saying many of the displaced had only recently arrived in Akobo hoping to find safety.

“I was struck by the crushing sight of families being forced into the wilderness yet again,” Chandonga said.

“These were the same people who had arrived from Walgak only weeks ago, weary but hopeful that they could finally set down their heavy bundles and rest. Instead, safety vanished in an instant. There was no time to grieve the lives they left behind,” he added.

This is in addition to around 78,000 people who already arrived there in January according to UNOCHA in South Sudan, putting strain on Gambella which hosts over 450,000 South Sudanese refugees.

Oxfam is now urging all parties in South Sudan to de-escalate tensions and prioritize the protection of civilians. The organization also called for guarantees that humanitarian agencies can safely access populations in need in Akobo County, including communities along the border with Ethiopia.