He said the nation needs more support from members of the international community, as refugee numbers are expected to climb.
Aid agencies are concerned that the situation might get even worse if funds are not raised to help the refugees.
“The number of people who are coming is increasing quicker than the services that we can provide,” said Acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan Peter Van Der Auweraert.
SHAKY CEASEFIRE
At least 700 people have been killed and more than 1 million internally displaced as the battle for control of the country enters its seventh week.
The warring factions on Monday (May 29) agreed to a five-day extension of a fragile ceasefire agreement to allow for the delivery of aid to reach civilians in conflict zones.
The development came after pressure from mediators United States and Saudi Arabia, who said that a week-long truce was repeatedly violated by both sides, including renewed heavy clashes and air strikes in the capital.
Sudan has also called for the re-enlisting of its retired soldiers. While doing so is voluntary, this could suggest that the government is preparing for a longer conflict.
Already, many parts of capital Khartoum and huge swaths of other urban areas are seeing a breakdown of essential services and a severe lack in necessities, forcing residents to flee.
Amid the ongoing conflict, Sudan’s military ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan asked the UN to replace its special envoy to the country Volker Perthes last week.
It was unclear what exactly prompted the request.
Mr Perthes was appointed to the role in 2021, and had been pushing for the country’s transition to civilian rule, a move that has not been welcomed by some in Sudan’s army.
UN chief Antonio Guterres was reportedly shocked by the request, and has since defended the envoy’s work.
Source: CNA
