The majority of those arriving are South Sudanese nationals who had previously fled to Sudan during South Sudan's prolonged civil war, seeking refuge there.

Over one million people have fled the ongoing conflict in Sudan and arrived in neighboring South Sudan, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by nearly two years of continuous fighting, as reported by UN agencies on Tuesday.

Recent data released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) shows that a majority of those arriving are South Sudanese nationals who had previously sought refuge in Sudan during South Sudan’s long civil war. In addition, thousands of Sudanese nationals, who have been displaced for the first time due to the ongoing violence, as well as citizens from other countries residing in Sudan, have sought safety in South Sudan.

Since the outbreak of violence in April 2023, more than 770,200 people have entered South Sudan through Wunthou (Joda) on the northern border with Sudan, according to the agencies' report.

Critical transit hubs have also seen an influx of displaced individuals. Tens of thousands of people have crossed through important transit hubs such as Majokyinthiou in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Panakuach in Unity State, and Abyei Amiet in the Abyei Administrative Area.

Both IOM and UNHCR have raised alarms about the scale of this unprecedented displacement, expressing grave concerns over the deteriorating crisis. Since the conflict began, both agencies have been providing essential assistance, including transportation support, cash assistance, shelter, non-food items, protection, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services. Additionally, they have been offering water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), and health care services to those in need.

"The arrival of over a million people into South Sudan is a stark and sobering statistic, highlighting the vast scale of this crisis," said Sanaa Abdalla Omer, the UNHCR South Sudan deputy representative. "Every day, more families are forced to make the difficult choice to flee violence in Sudan and seek safety across the border. UNHCR is working with the government and partners to deliver lifesaving support, including shelter and basic necessities, to both displaced families and host communities."

Omer praised the people of South Sudan for their generosity in welcoming those in need but emphasized that they cannot handle the crisis alone. She called for increased support from the international community to ensure displaced families and host communities receive the resources they urgently need.

"As the crisis in Sudan continues to unfold, IOM is committed to addressing the urgent needs of those forced to flee into South Sudan and stands ready to scale up its response," said Vijaya Souri, IOM South Sudan's chief of mission. "In addition to ongoing transportation assistance, which remains a priority to ease pressure in Renk County, it is critical to ensure sustainable support for both displaced and host communities, as local resources such as healthcare, water, and shelter are becoming dangerously overstretched," Souri emphasized.