South Sudan faces worst refugee crisis in the world: with 50,000 new refugees in June

The refugee crisis in South Sudan is currently the worst according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). In the month of June more than 50,000 new refugees arrived, fleeing conflict in Sudan. The total number of refugees hosted in the various camps has almost reached 200,000. Shockingly, 65 % of those refugees are under the age of 17.Unity state hosts up to 55,000 refugees, the majority of whom are concentrated in camp Yida, which holds 53,490 refugees. They settle there after crossing the border from South Kordofan.
According to data provided by the UNHCR on camp Yida:

• The average quantity of water available per person per day (litres) is 6.4L, whereas the standard is 20 L.
  
• The number of persons per health care facility is 29188, the target is 10000. 
  
• Only 2.1% of the population is provided with 250g of bathing soap per month per month.

The Upper Nile state has the largest concentration of refugees fleeing from the border war. The camps in the Upper Nile state currently hold 107,404 refugees. The refugee population in Doro and Jammam continues to increase steadily. Camp Doro currently holds 40,289 refugees. According to data provided by the UNHCR camp Doro is better off when compared to camp Yida:

• The average quantity of water available per person per day (litres) 12.4L, the standard is 20 L.
  
•  Number of persons per health care facility 40289, the target is 10000. 
• The percentage of the population provided with 250g of bathing soap per month per person in the camp is 95%.

The UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards describes the situation in South Sudan as among the most critical the agency now faces in the world. An initial funding appeal in January was based on a refugee population not exceeding 135,000 people.Edwards said many of the new arrivals were in a desperate state with large numbers of children in urgent need of assistance to combat malnourishment. “We are very concerned about the growing mortality rates in the refugee camps,” he said. “Water shortages present a life-threatening risk, particularly for an already weakened population.”

UNHCR says it is currently planning for a refugee population in South Sudan of up to 235,000 people. Funding needs for the operation now exceed US$ 219 million said Edwards, though the agency has so far received just 45.9 million, or less than 21 per cent of what is required.

Breakdown number of refugees per state July 2012 (UNHCR)