South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
Several people fleeing ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan are finding it difficult to integrate among host communities in South Sudan, according to the latest findings by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Marie-Helene Verney, UNHCR’s Representative in South Sudan said this stems from that fact that host communities enduring economic hardship, climate shocks and conflict.
“Over the past two years, South Sudanese communities have shown remarkable generosity welcoming people fleeing Sudan into their homes. However, both host communities and refugees are facing growing pressure, including economic hardship, climate shocks, conflict and severe cuts in humanitarian services,” said Verney on Monday in a statement.
UNHCR based it’s findings on household surveys conducted among 3,200 households and the evaluation of over 1,100 infrastructure points in Magwi and Torit counties of Eastern Equatoria State, Morobo and Yei River Counties of Central Equatoria State, Aweil Centre, East, North, and West counties of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State and Raja county, Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
The findings reveal significant gaps in essential services, including overstretched healthcare facilities, medicine shortages, overcrowded schools, insufficient number of teachers (one for every 140 students), limited access to safe water, and housing challenges including land disputes and makeshift shelters.
The statement revealed that the response is focused on recovery, sustainable integration and laying the foundations for lasting peace, adding that there is urgent need for sustained investment to support their long-term stability and development.
It noted that the government-led plan to support host communities, refugees, returnees and displaced persons, providing sustainable solutions through reintegration and recovery is supported by the European Union Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG-INTPA).
UNHCR revealed that only 7 percent of the Sudan crisis regional refugee response plan is funded, adding that urgent donor support is needed to prevent further suffering of displaced populations and host communities.
It said that recommended priorities revolve around enhancing healthcare services through facility upgrades, medicine supplies, and expanded staffing, as well as supporting housing solutions through land dispute resolution.
Since April 2023, the war in Sudan has displaced 13 million people, including over one million refugees and South Sudanese returnees fleeing to South Sudan, which is already grappling with its own crises including immense strain in providing humanitarian aid to new arrivals, host communities and already existing displaced populations.
