Hundreds of returnees and refugees being ferried from Upper Nile border areas. (UNHCR/Facebook).

The United Nations Security Council Sanction Committee concerning South Sudan said Wednesday the months-long conflict in Sudan has had “serious” humanitarian consequences on South Sudan.

The Coordinator of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan on November 17, 2023, briefed members of the Security Council Committee in connection with the Panel’s interim report.

“The coordinator provided an overview of the findings and recommendations contained in the Panel’s report, noting inter alia that the Panel had observed that the conflict in Sudan has had serious consequences for South Sudan, stressing humanitarian and economic crises particularly in Upper Nile State and Jonglei State,” UNSC said in a press statement.

The global peacekeeping body was also notified about “progress and challenges” in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly battles between the Sudan Armed Force and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Force in the capital Khartoum and other areas since April 15.

The conflict has killed up to 9,000 people by October, forced more than 6 million displaced within and outside Sudan, and left 25 million in need of aid, according to the latest Sudan situation report issued on November 12 by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha).

OCHA said in November 15, that it has registered about 375,000 people including refugees and returnees entering South Sudan.

It said “poor road conditions caused by rains, insecurity and resource constraints continued to restrict the onward transportation of new arrivals from Renk” in Upper Nile State.

The agency further stressed that the situation in Sudan remains volatile, with fighting in the southern states that may result in more people trying to reach Renk through the Wunthou/Joda border.

On Tuesday, November 28, the Sudanese Armed Forces (Saf) announced the beginning of a ground campaign to march on the Sudanese capital to “eliminate” RSF.