UN: Thousands fleeing violence in S. Sudan
July 22, 2016
Over 26,000 South Sudanese refugees displaced by violence crossed the border into Uganda this month, reported the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) on Friday.
"Since fighting erupted on July 7 … 26,468 people have crossed into Uganda's northern region," UN refugee agency spokesman Andreas Needham wrote in a statement.
He added that 24,321 of the refugees had arrived in the previous six days alone.
Despite an uneasy peace in South Sudan's capitial, Juba, the number of people arriving at reception centers has continued, the UN official said, adding that 90 percent of the new arrivals are women and children.
The UNHCR noted that the influx is "severely stretching the capacity of collection points, transit centers and reception centers." One of the collection points, noted the spokesman, is so full that a head count is not possible.
Fighting erupted in early July between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those who support Vice President Riek Machar.
The political situation in South Sudan has long been riddled with rivalries and splits between leaders contesting for power and influence in the oil-producing nation. South Sudan only gained independence from Sudan five years ago.
rs/kl (AP, Reuters)