More than 2,700 South Sudanese returnees have arrived in Aweil East County in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State after fighting in Sudan’s West Kordofan forced civilians to flee, local authorities said.
Officials said 2,745 individuals from 841 households crossed into South Sudan following the capture of key Sudanese army positions, including Babanusa, Muglad and the Heglig oilfield, by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) earlier this month.
Clashes between Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF intensified in early December across the Kordofan region. On Dec. 8, the RSF seized control of Heglig, prompting SAF units to retreat toward the South Sudan border. SAF soldiers crossed into South Sudan and reportedly surrendered their weapons.
Akot Mawec, director of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in Aweil East County, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj the arrivals and warned of an urgent humanitarian situation.
“The situation is very bad,” Mawec said on Tuesday. “Many people are sleeping in the open without food, medicine or shelter, despite efforts by local chiefs to accommodate the most vulnerable, including lactating mothers.”
Mawec said 1,844 individuals from 559 households were registered in Warawar, while 901 individuals from 282 households were recorded in the Gok Deng area.
One returnee, who identified himself only as David Deng, said civilians were evacuated from Heglig on Dec. 4, days before the fall of the Sudanese army’s 90th Brigade stationed at the oilfield.
“We were evacuated before the RSF took over Heglig and before the full withdrawal of SAF soldiers,” he said. He appealed for urgent assistance, citing cold weather, shortages of food and clean water, and a lack of shelter.
“Some people have scattered into nearby villages, while others with nowhere to go are sleeping in open spaces,” he said.
Paul Kuch, Aweil East County’s director of information and communication, said humanitarian needs remain high despite limited assistance from aid groups.
“The International Committee of the Red Cross has provided some support, but it is not enough,” Kuch said. “These survivors still need food, shelter and protection from the state and national governments, as well as humanitarian partners.”
South Sudan’s government has increasingly relied on international aid agencies to meet the needs of displaced populations and returnees.