South Sudanese women and children in a camp in Ethiopia. MSF photo.

Médecins Sans Frontières, M-S-F, says thousands of South Sudanese refugees who have fled violence and sought refuge in Ethiopia are in dire need of assistance.

A press statement issued by the international health agency yesterday, says the refugees are suffering from a range of emergency medical conditions, including highly infectious measles.

The agency says the refugees in camps in Ethiopia’s Gambella region “lack clean drinking water, food and sanitation facilities”.

An estimated 80,000 refugees who have fled their homes in Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Unity States have so far arrived in Ethiopia.

“At least 1,000 refugees arrive in Ethiopia daily, and the total number could reach 140,000 in the coming weeks,” said MSF.

MSF says at least one thousand new refugees arrive in Ethiopia daily with many suffering from respiratory infections, diarrhea and malaria.