The United Nations refugee agency, (UNHCR), on Wednesday said an escalating armed conflict in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State has displaced more than 20,000 people since August, some of them forced to flee for their lives up to four times as the conflict rages, reported The UN News.
Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative in South Sudan, said that near about 3,000 people have already fled to neighbouring Sudan.
“Desperation is rising, and more people are fleeing as conflict intensifies,” he added in a statement. “Civilians are under attack in this ruthless conflict; we must ensure their protection.”
According to the UNHCR, the armed conflict began in the Tonga village in Upper Nile back in August. The conflict has since spread to other regions in Upper Nile, as well as northern parts of Jonglei and Unity states.
Jamal said the relief agency along with the UN and other NGO partner organizations have boosted efforts to provide life-saving support, shelter, relief items, protection services, cash, and other assistance to the vulnerable people in South Sudan, including in areas which are remote and hard-to-reach. The implementation of the measures, however, has been slow.
He warned that the situation continues to deteriorate despite UNHCR’s support for efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote peace.
The UN agency claims that nearly 6.8 million people need urgent life-saving aid due to armed conflict, worsening food insecurity, localised violence, dramatic flooding, and economic destabilisation in South Sudan.
According to the UNHCR, women, children, and others at high risk constitutes the majority of those displaced. Some older people or those with disabilities have been unable to flee, compelled to hide in bushes and along the White Nile River during attacks.
The UN refugee agency also said the fleeing civilians are visibly traumatised; many have lost their homes and been separated from their families.
