South Sudan is grappling with an overwhelming influx of refugees fleeing conflict in Sudan and a rapidly escalating cholera outbreak, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
MSF reported that up to 5,000 refugees cross the border daily, while UN estimates range from 7,000 to 10,000. The crisis stems from Sudan’s ongoing conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has caused widespread casualties and displacement since April 2023.
In Renk town, near a transit center housing 17,000 refugees, MSF and the International Committee of the Red Cross are providing medical care, but resources are stretched. Many wounded patients remain untreated, with over 100 awaiting urgent surgery.
South Sudan, itself plagued by poverty and instability, is ill-prepared for the refugee surge. Internally displaced citizens already face dire conditions, exacerbated by a worsening cholera outbreak. MSF reported 92 deaths in Unity state, with over 1,200 cases treated in Bentiu city in just four weeks.
MSF highlighted poor sanitation in camps near Juba, where thousands live amid uncollected waste and contaminated water. Mamman Mustapha, MSF’s head of mission, warned that without urgent intervention, cholera cases are expected to rise significantly in the coming weeks.