Over 1.38 Million People Have Arrived in South Sudan Since Sudan Conflict Began – UNHCR
Credit: UNHCR
More than 1.38 million people have crossed into South Sudan since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, according to the latest UNHCR Sudan Situation External Update.
As of 28 May 2026, South Sudan had received 1,384,589 arrivals, while joint border monitoring recorded 1,387,307 cumulative arrivals, including 932,723 South Sudanese returnees (67%), 447,964 Sudanese refugees (32%), and smaller numbers of refugees, asylum-seekers and third-country nationals.
UNHCR said humanitarian partners continued to provide protection, healthcare, water, sanitation, shelter and other essential services despite growing needs.
In Maban, protection teams documented 24 incidents, including assaults, theft and road accidents, while in Jamjang, 52 protection cases were managed and vulnerable female-headed households received counselling and referrals for food and shelter assistance.
The agency also reported that 302 refugees in Maban raised concerns over insecurity, limited access to specialized healthcare, psychological distress linked to the conflict in Sudan, and difficulties replacing lost or expired identity documents.
Health services remained under pressure. In Maban, more than 1,700 outpatient consultations were conducted during the reporting period, with malaria, acute respiratory infections and acute watery diarrhoea among the leading illnesses. Nutrition screening identified 54 malnourished children, all of whom were enrolled in treatment programmes.
UNHCR warned that access to safe water in Maban refugee camps remained below emergency standards, with water availability ranging between six and 10 litres per person per day. Meanwhile, assessments are underway to upgrade water infrastructure in Aweil and Wedweil to improve services for refugees and host communities.
The report also highlighted progress on durable solutions, noting that a two-day workshop in Aweil brought together government officials, UN agencies, NGOs and community representatives to develop a Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Action Plan aimed at supporting refugees, internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities.
