The International Red Cross (ICHR) has said that thousands of people in South Sudan have been displaced as a result of the ongoing violence between the country and its northern neighbor Sudan. Since the beginning of the year, the ICRC has stepped up its efforts to respond to mounting humanitarian needs in South Sudan. In early April, needs increased further when hostilities erupted along the border with Sudan. The ICRC is striving to help people affected by armed violence in South Sudan. “Many people left their homes in a hurry because of the violence, often leaving everything behind and finding some sort of shelter in makeshift camps,” said Melker Mabeck, the ICRC's head of delegation in South Sudan. “Hospitals, particularly in Bentiu in Unity state, saw an influx of wounded patients and have struggled to cope,” he added. On several occasions, the ICRC donated surgical consumables, drugs and other essential items to Bentiu Civil Hospital and Bentiu Military Hospital. In neighboring Upper Nile state, where the ICRC is providing support for Malakal Teaching Hospital, ICRC doctors performed over 80 operations on patients in April. Most were weapon-related injuries. Since hostilities intensified just over a month ago, the ICRC has focused on visiting conflict-related detainees including prisoners of war, providing emergency relief to the newly displaced and helping hospitals treat the wounded. It has also sought to ensure that communities affected by fighting have access to safe water. ICRC maintains a strong presence in northern regions of South Sudan where communities are suffering from the violence. “A key task is to remind parties to the conflict of their obligation to respect civilians, the wounded and prisoners,” said Mabeck.
