UNHCR: South Sudan sees growing influx of refugees from South Kordofan

South Sudan
September 16, 2011 (Miraya FM)

More than 8,000 civilians have fled the fighting in Southern Kordofan into South Sudan, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

UNHCR spokesperson, Adrian Edward, told a press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, on Friday that there has been a surge in arrivals from 100 a day in August  to 500 a day now.

He said that the new arrivals are mostly refugees from the Nuba Mountains region of central Sudan, who began trickling into South Sudan in July following heavy fighting and air strikes.

"The refugees are currently scattered in remote northern areas of Unity State where a lack of airstrips and roads is severely limiting humanitarian access", said Edward.

He said that Most of the displaced walked for days to reach safety in South Sudan's Unity State, which shares a border with the troubled regions of Abyei and Southern Kordofan States.

"These are the first refugees to reach post-independence South Sudan and we expect more arrivals amid persistent reports of aerial bombing in Southern Kordofan" said Edward.

UNHCR has conducted basic registration at the border and identified the most vulnerable among the new arrivals for individual follow-up.

The agency is also supporting a mobile clinic to address the health needs, and is developing a site to relocate the refugees away from the border.

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