Thousands of South Sudanese families displaced from Upper Nile State are being aided by Sudanese organizations in the Um Jalala area of White Nile State.
Approximately 16,000 refugees have arrived in White Nile since the outbreak of fighting between government forces and defected forces loyal to Dr. Riek Machar, according to figures provided by UN OCHA Sudan in their latest situation report
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj several citizens from Um Jalala said the number of the refugees who fled to the Um Jalala area in particular area stands at 11,000, mostly from Shilluk territories of western Upper Nile.
State authorities have opened camps at Kilo Ashara village in order to accommodate the conflict-stricken people. “The Sudanese Red Crescent and other relief organizations are now providing aid to the refugees inside the camp,” a local resident confirmed.
Um Jalala citizens affirmed that their area is still secure and stable as refugees continued to cross from Upper Nile. According to the aid organizations, many new arrivals in White Nile are from urban areas and eventually aim to move on to other urban areas farther north, such as Kosti or Khartoum, where they might have extended family and other support networks.
File photo: South Sudanese refugees wait at a border gate in Joda, White Nile State, 16 January 2014 (Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)