South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
South Sudan is facing a significant increase in the number of refugees, the majority of whom are fleeing the ongoing crisis in Sudan, according to government officials and representatives from the African Union during a recent humanitarian assessment mission.
Speaking to the media after the meeting with the African Union delegates on Friday, the Deputy Commissioner for the Commission of Refugee Affairs (CRA), John Dabi reported that approximately 90% of refugees currently entering South Sudan are from Sudan, with numbers rising since conflict erupted there on 15 April 2023.
“We have a number of refugees, but 90% are from Sudan,” Dabi said. “We receive them because our refugee act and policy is an open-door policy. And I think that’s because we ourselves were refugees in many countries during the liberation struggle.”
Dabi highlighted South Sudan’s progressive refugee law, which he described as one of the most advanced among the IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) member states, thus encouraging international support. “This is very encouraging,” he added. “That’s why we see so many donors attempting to come in and provide assistance.”
However, Dabi pointed out significant challenges in accessing resources. “Support from the African Union does not come directly to us,” he explained. “It is channelled through the government system—specifically the central bank and the finance ministry—and then we must collaborate with partners to access funds for projects such as health centres and schools. People should not assume that this money is handed directly to the Commission for Refugees.”
Meanwhile, African Union delegate Ambassador Churchill Ewumbue Monono emphasised that the mission aimed not only to assess the refugee situation but also to evaluate ongoing AU-supported development projects.
“This is an AU humanitarian assessment mission,” Monono stated. “We are here to assess the situation of the refugees and returnees, particularly those arriving from Sudan, and to examine the impact of their presence on development.”
Monono confirmed that the AU had recently allocated $500,000 for the construction of classrooms in the Perou area, with additional support provided in the form of educational materials and aid to schools and settlements. “The AU is moving from policy to action,” he remarked. “We are here to address some of the gaps, especially as other donors are retracting.”
He underscored the importance of African-led solutions. “We stand in solidarity,” Monono added. “The challenges that South Sudan faces with refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are issues that affect all of us as Africans.”
Fred Bully, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Development Consortium, noted that the burden of hosting over a million displaced individuals is straining South Sudan’s already limited resources.
“The influx, nearing one million, means that South Sudan, which is already grappling with its own humanitarian challenges, now has to accommodate nearly 600,000 additional refugees,” Bully explained. “This consultation is crucial. We need to better coordinate our responses and advocate for more resources.”
He cautioned that ongoing funding shortages jeopardise the ability of aid agencies to respond effectively. “Every humanitarian partner is facing resource constraints. Without additional support, we will be unable to meet the increasing needs.”
