Returnees fleeing fighting in Sudan arrive in Renk County, Upper Nile State - April 22, 2023 | Photo: Sarah Michael.

The United Nations and humanitarian partners in South Sudan are urgently appealing for US $ 96 million to assist the influx of returnees and refugees from Sudan into South Sudan.

According to UNHRC, IOM, and OCHA, since the outbreak of the fighting on 15 April, over 32,500 people have been registered to cross the border from Sudan into South Sudan.

The UN agencies say the real numbers are likely to be higher as some people entered the country without registration,

They say the average number of people arriving daily is 3,500 individuals with most arriving at the Joda border crossing point in Upper Nile State.

More than 90 percent of those arriving are South Sudanese returning home as well as Sudanese seeking asylum, Eritrean refugees, Kenyan and Somali migrants, and other third-country nationals.

Van der Auweraert, the Humanitarian Coordinator said  “The majority of those arriving, often with no belongings and very traumatized, are in dire need of immediate humanitarian assistance, including medical and psychosocial support, and transportation to their destination.”

Van der Auweraert said the UN and humanitarian partners needed the funding to provide rapid assistance to those arriving and support the Government of South Sudan’s efforts to help people moving from the border as quickly as possible.

Of the total funding required, $39.9 million is to assist returning South Sudanese at the border and as they move onward to their communities

While $53.9 million will be used to provide basic services to refugees in designated camps for six months.

A further $2.2 million is required to support third-country nationals with transportation assistance to their countries of origin.

“If we do not act now, there is a high risk that vulnerable families will be stranded in inhospitable border areas for the duration of the rainy season, which will increase their suffering and the costs of providing assistance,” said
Mr. Van der Auweraert.