The new arrivals are mostly fleeing from Eastern Equatoria state, with a smaller number arriving from Juba. About 6,500 refugees are staying in the Pagiarinya Settlement Camp in Adjumani District.
At least 1,326 South Sudanese crossed into Uganda between Friday and Saturday, and another 1,633 arrived on Sunday, according to the UN agency for refugees.
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHRC) in Uganda said this influx was expected to grow in “the days ahead as tensions remain high across the border.”
UNHCR’s associate external relations officer Charles Yaxley said in a statement yesterday that prior to Friday, the average daily rate of refugees was 233. “These new arrivals bring the total number to have fled to Uganda since the latest violence in South Sudan began on July 7, to 5,015.”
Most affected areas
The new arrivals are mostly fleeing from Eastern Equatoria state, with a smaller number arriving from Juba. About 6,500 refugees are staying in the Pagiarinya Settlement Camp in Adjumani District, while others are waiting at collection points to be transferred to the settlement.
Since the violence broke out, the UN estimates that at least 300 people have been killed and more than 10,000 displaced.
“The fresh displacement will put a further strain on UNHCR’s resources for the South Sudan operation and our ability to provide timely and life-saving assistance,” Mr Yaxley said in a statement.
By end of last year, Uganda was already hosting 512,968 refugees and asylum-seekers. Another 20,000 refugees sought sanctuary in the country fleeing from the political turmoil in Burundi.
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