More than 510 Sudanese refugees fleeing violence near the border region around Malakal have arrived in Western Equatoria State this week.Â
The Refugee Affairs Commission, in coordination with the state government, is preparing to receive an additional 1,500 refugees in the coming days.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Paulino Zizi Bugwa, Refugee Commissioner for Western Equatoria State, confirmed the arrival of the latest group.
“We are currently receiving around 120 refugees daily, with UNHCR facilitating their transport to Nzara Airport. So far, we have welcomed 510 refugees, and they are being resettled at Makpandu Refugee Camp,” he stated.
These refugees are part of a larger population displaced by ongoing conflict in Sudan, and they have been given the choice to settle in Upper Nile State, Western Bahr el Ghazal State, or Western Equatoria State.
Makpandu Refugee Camp in Western Equatoria offers security and a chance for the new arrivals to rebuild their lives. “Each family is allocated a 3-by-3 square kilometer plot of land for cultivation and settlement,” explained Commissioner Zizi.
This land distribution aims to support the refugees’ self-sufficiency and contribute to their mental and physical well-being.
South Sudan’s efforts to resettle refugees align with international agreements signed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, which obligate the government to provide protection, shelter, and essential services to those displaced by conflict.
“It is our responsibility to safeguard the refugees, ensure their access to services, and monitor their living conditions,” Zizi emphasized, underscoring the role of the Refugee Affairs Commission in overseeing the entire resettlement process.
The continued influx of refugees from Sudan highlights the region’s ongoing instability. Both the South Sudanese government and international humanitarian organizations are working to ensure that displaced individuals receive the necessary support and protection.
