Juba — The ongoing war in Sudan is drastically increasing people's needs across the border in South Sudan, says Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). MSF calls for an immediate scale-up of lifesaving aid for refugees and returnees fleeing the war and for the communities hosting them. The war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has created one of the world's largest displacement crises, with more than 10 million people forced to flee their homes.
More than 680,000 people have arrived in South Sudan since April last year, at a time when the country's health system and existing humanitarian assistance can barely meet its people's needs. In the coming months, the pressure on health services and aid organisations is likely to increase, with an estimated seven million people predicted to be without access to sufficient food by July. Renk in South Sudan's Upper Nile state is located around 60 kilometres from Joda, the official entry point for people fleeing the war.
Some 13,000 refugees and returnees are currently stranded in and around the transit centre in the town. The number fluctuates depending on the onward movements; either they wait to be able to continue their journeys across South Sudan or return home to Sudan. Living conditions are dire, and they have limited food, water, shelter, sanitation facilities, and medical care.
Many of those who arrive at the border are injured and acutely malnourished, having walked for weeks to reach safety. Aid agencies provide them with mon.
