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Sudanese Refugees Seek Improved Conditions in South Sudan


FILE- A refugee family from Sudan, having newly resettled in Gendrassa camp in Maban, Upper Nile State, South Sudan, on the border with Sudan, is seen August 2, 2012.
FILE- A refugee family from Sudan, having newly resettled in Gendrassa camp in Maban, Upper Nile State, South Sudan, on the border with Sudan, is seen August 2, 2012.

BUNJ - Sudanese refugees in South Sudan's Maban County are unhappy about conditions in Kaya camp, prompting some to seek alternative solutions.

Elderda Ibrahim Hassan, a mother of four, voices concerns over Kaya 's living conditions camp and wants to relocate to Renk County for better services.

"When we reached here in Maban, we were given flour, beans and oil only once, and they did not give us these food items again. We are only given cash," Hassan explains.

Some refugees also report security concerns within and around the camps. Kadhali Ibrahim, a camp leader, describes armed attacks targeting refugees.

"We also have one of our neighbors who was beaten in his hand... this level of threat is unbearable to us," Ibrahim states.

Food shortages exacerbate the situation, compelling families to consider leaving the camps. Adaw Hakim, 25, highlights the limited variety of food and healthcare challenges.

"The food here is a very big problem... Only the common food we are eating as a community is asida, with the same stew, with the same sauce, there is no change," Hakim remarks.

Despite ongoing arrivals from Sudan, the lack of a ceasefire hinders efforts to address refugee needs. Peter Walla, acting assistant commissioner for refugees, acknowledges the challenges but advises newcomers to exercise patience.

"As time goes, they will get used to the camp life," Walla reassures.

Approximately 200,000 refugees from Sudan are currently housed in four camps in Maban County, where funding gaps hinder aid agencies' ability to meet refugees' needs as other conflicts, like Gaza and Ukraine, take the spotlight.

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