According to UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 10,000 individuals who fled the fighting in Sudan and made their way to South Sudan have now registered as refugees there.
Since the violence began in April, a total of 130,000 individuals have fled into South Sudan; however, the majority of those refugees are South Sudanese who have returned to their homes.
According to Ocha, the most recent migration is further aggravating an already precarious situation, and it is anticipated that the number of new arrivals will continue to rise as long as the war persists.
According to Ocha, individuals who are arriving include children who have been abandoned or separated from their families, elderly people, people with impairments, people who have immediate medical needs, pregnant women, and households headed solely by women.
A significant number of newcomers have either been a witness to or a victim of acts of violence and exploitation, such as extortion and looting, at some point, including while travelling to South Sudan.
Egypt, with 255,000 migrants, and Chad, with 120,000 refugees, have taken in the majority of the refugees escaping the turmoil in Sudan. This is true when looking at the rest of Sudan’s neighbours.
Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told journalists in Geneva, “We are concerned by the continued devastating impact of the fighting in Sudan on civilians.” “We are concerned by the continued impact of the fighting in Sudan on civilians,”
Since the middle of April, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and its military adversaries, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have been engaged in bloody battles against one another.
Hundreds have been killed, and some 1.2 million have been displaced. Numerous alerts have been issued by UN agencies and partners regarding the worsening humanitarian crisis.
According to Mr Laurence, an air raid on a bustling livestock market in the capital city of Khartoum on Wednesday, which allegedly was carried out by the SAF, resulted in the deaths of at least eight persons. There were at least three members of the same family among the victims.
In a different incident on that same day, a shell reportedly struck the home of a child and killed them in the Al-Shajraa district, which is located in the southern part of Khartoum.
OHCHR has also received reports of the killings of four additional civilians in the capital city on Monday, while at least three members from the same family, including a pregnant woman, were purportedly slain on Sunday.
A refugee centre was reportedly struck by airstrikes on that day near the Sports Complex in southern Khartoum. The strikes resulted in the deaths of at least ten migrants. In addition, since the war began, there has been a shortage of humanitarian aid in Khartoum, which has led to the deaths of at least 71 children who were living in an orphanage. This shortage includes a lack of medical supplies.
According to Mr Laurence, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is likewise worried about claims of sexual assault associated with conflicts.
“Since the fighting started, our Office has received reliable complaints of 12 cases of sexual violence related to the conflict against at least 37 women – although the number could be higher. These occurrences affected at least 37 women. At least three of the victims were young girls, and this happened in at least three separate occurrences. According to him, between eighteen and twenty women were victims of sexual assault in one of the cases.
Increasing allegations of apparent enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention are another cause for concern, he noted. Additionally, the surge in online hate speech and disinformation places journalists in a more precarious position than they were previously.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has become aware of a list that is going around on social media that accuses certain journalists of being RSF supporters. The staff has also come across comments on Facebook that urge for the individuals on the list to be murdered.
“We reiterate the High Commissioner’s call on both parties to the fighting to ensure protection of civilians as well as respect for international humanitarian law along with the international human rights law,” he said. “We call on both parties to ensure protection of civilians as well as respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”
“They are also responsible for ensuring that any violations are investigated thoroughly and independently and that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”
