South Sudan refugees' second exodus
- 12 years ago
Refugees from the world's newest nation, South Sudan, seek shelter in Kenya, as homeland conflict rages.
Thousands of refugees left Kenya to return home when the South gained independence from Sudan, almost a year ago.
But here at Kakuma camp, the cycle of exodus now repeats itself.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) KAKUMA SUB-OFFICE HEAD OF UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES, GUY AVOGNON, SAYING:
"The camp was down to around 30 percent of its former capacity that means more than 50,000 people left during that time but we are now back to the pre-2007 numbers, even above, because by 2007 we were in the range of between 80 even 90,000. Right now we are getting closer and closer to 100,000."
The reason is renewed conflict between Sudan and its southern neighbour. About 1,200 South Sudanese refugees are pouring into this camp each month, fleeing war and hunger.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SOUTH SUDANESE REFUGEE, NYIBOL MARIA, SAYING:
"We have a lot of problems in our country, I just decided to come here because my village was raided and my husband and some children from a house near mine were killed. I ran away at night and it took me three weeks to get here."
Since independence, South Sudan has accused its northern neighbour of aerial bombing raids, a charge routinely denied by Khartoum.
Last month's fighting broke out amid disputes over oil exports, border demarcation, citizenship rights and financial arrangements.
Lily Grimes, Reuters
Thousands of refugees left Kenya to return home when the South gained independence from Sudan, almost a year ago.
But here at Kakuma camp, the cycle of exodus now repeats itself.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) KAKUMA SUB-OFFICE HEAD OF UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES, GUY AVOGNON, SAYING:
"The camp was down to around 30 percent of its former capacity that means more than 50,000 people left during that time but we are now back to the pre-2007 numbers, even above, because by 2007 we were in the range of between 80 even 90,000. Right now we are getting closer and closer to 100,000."
The reason is renewed conflict between Sudan and its southern neighbour. About 1,200 South Sudanese refugees are pouring into this camp each month, fleeing war and hunger.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SOUTH SUDANESE REFUGEE, NYIBOL MARIA, SAYING:
"We have a lot of problems in our country, I just decided to come here because my village was raided and my husband and some children from a house near mine were killed. I ran away at night and it took me three weeks to get here."
Since independence, South Sudan has accused its northern neighbour of aerial bombing raids, a charge routinely denied by Khartoum.
Last month's fighting broke out amid disputes over oil exports, border demarcation, citizenship rights and financial arrangements.
Lily Grimes, Reuters