More than 2,000 households have been driven by conflict in parts of South Sudan’s Upper Nile State into Abu Jubeiha locality in South Kordofan state.
The Sudanese locality lies in the eastern Nuba Mountains, bordering the Shilluk territory of western Upper Nile, which has seen clashes between SPLA and defectors from various organized forces.
Abu Jubeiha locality Commissioner Babiker Mohamed Sharif stated that about 2,000 South Sudanese already arrived in Jadid, Abu Nawara Garida and Megenis areas. In an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, the commissioner said the refugees have been given food and other humanitarian assistance by the organizations operating in the area.
The new arrivals would be treated as Sudanese nationals, not as refugees, according to the commissioner. “We have shared good social relations with South Sudanese, particularly the communities along the border”, he emphasized.
On Sunday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) found that an estimated 490,600 people have been displaced within South Sudan while another 83,900 crossed into neighboring countries, putting the figure for total displacement at 574,500 people. “The total number of people displaced is likely higher, as aid agencies have very limited information about displacement outside main population centres”, the UN coordination agency stated.
File photo: Displaced women in South Sudan (Medecins Sans Frontieres)
Related: Map: More than 5% of South Sudan population displaced (19 January 2014)