Refugees may have to relocate come the rainy season
While the appearance of Academy Award winning actor George Clooney's to
war-torn Southern Kordofan made headlines around the world, agencies are
struggling in Blue Nile State, which has sent four times as many
refugees across the border into South Sudan.
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The United
Nations says there are about 82,500 Blue Nile refugees in camps in Upper
Nile. Another 20,000 refugees have fled Southern Kordofan into South
Sudan's Unity state. The United Nations and the United States government
have warned that hundreds of thousands more could flee as food runs out
in both states.
Sudan's government is waging war against insurgents in both states. Refugees and human rights groups have come forward to say that Sudan is also targeting civilians in an aerial bombing campaign. The British and U.S. governments issued statements demanding Sudan stop bombing civilians last week, and have urged South Sudan's government to cease providing military support to the insurgents.
The rebel Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-North was formerly part of the force that fought a two-decade civil war against Sudan. In response, the south seceded, creating the newly emerging state of South Sudan. After independence on July 9 last year, the movement officially split and South Sudan's politicians have repeatedly denied any ties with the movement.
Andrew Omale, an emergency coordinator with the aid agency Oxfam International, said more are expected as food runs out in Blue Nile, which lies south east of Khartoum and borders Ethiopia.
"I must say it is very unfortunate that this emergency here is a forgotten emergency," he told reporters on March 22 during to a visit to the camp. "We really appeal to the international community to support the refugees who are here in Maban County."
Agencies are rushing to prepare the camp before the onslaught of the rainy season within the next few weeks. Oxfam International is urging donors to provide funds as it will cost three times as much to move food and other supplies into the area once the rainy season begins and road access becomes difficult or even impossible in some areas.
Officials say the rains will also flood the area where most of the refugees are camping, and they need to move them to higher ground.
Medicines Sans Fronteirs has warned in an emailed statement that "Only a short window of opportunity remains before the rainy season severely inhibits the urgent provision of humanitarian assistance."
The conflict in Blue Nile has received considerably less attention. "This area here is a very difficult area to access, and probably that's why the international community is not focusing attention here," Omale says.
© 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.
Sudan's government is waging war against insurgents in both states. Refugees and human rights groups have come forward to say that Sudan is also targeting civilians in an aerial bombing campaign. The British and U.S. governments issued statements demanding Sudan stop bombing civilians last week, and have urged South Sudan's government to cease providing military support to the insurgents.
The rebel Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-North was formerly part of the force that fought a two-decade civil war against Sudan. In response, the south seceded, creating the newly emerging state of South Sudan. After independence on July 9 last year, the movement officially split and South Sudan's politicians have repeatedly denied any ties with the movement.
Andrew Omale, an emergency coordinator with the aid agency Oxfam International, said more are expected as food runs out in Blue Nile, which lies south east of Khartoum and borders Ethiopia.
"I must say it is very unfortunate that this emergency here is a forgotten emergency," he told reporters on March 22 during to a visit to the camp. "We really appeal to the international community to support the refugees who are here in Maban County."
Agencies are rushing to prepare the camp before the onslaught of the rainy season within the next few weeks. Oxfam International is urging donors to provide funds as it will cost three times as much to move food and other supplies into the area once the rainy season begins and road access becomes difficult or even impossible in some areas.
Officials say the rains will also flood the area where most of the refugees are camping, and they need to move them to higher ground.
Medicines Sans Fronteirs has warned in an emailed statement that "Only a short window of opportunity remains before the rainy season severely inhibits the urgent provision of humanitarian assistance."
The conflict in Blue Nile has received considerably less attention. "This area here is a very difficult area to access, and probably that's why the international community is not focusing attention here," Omale says.
© 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.
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