South Sudan Commission for Refugee Affairs revealed that the country host more than 600,000 registered refugees.
Yawusa Daud Kintha Kintha Deputy Director for Protection and refugee welfare at South Sudan Commission for Refugee Affairs revealed that the numbers have overwhelmed hence there is nee for support.
Daud was speaking to Journalist during an athletic games between the host community and the refuges.
The event is part of the commemoration of international refugees Day.
World Refugee Day, observed annually on 20 June, Honorsthe resilience, strength, and courage of refugees who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters.
Speaking to the media, Daud appealed to the partners to support South Sudan who is now hosting over 600,000 refugees.
“We as South Sudanese we need to know this country is hosting more than 600,000 register refugees” he said
“We have a lot of challenges that need both the government and the partners to team” he added.
“One of the challenges is lack of funding for Youth engagement activities”
He explained that several challenges continue to face the refugees due to the recent aid cut by United States that affect the operations of Organizations helping the refugees.
Daud revealed the refugees faces challenge in acquire Education beside food shortage due to ratio cut in the camps.
“Coming to Education as well, most of the refugees who are in Refugee camps every year we have over 1000 refugees completing secondary school and they face it hard to join University” he said
“Many are at refugees’ camps doing nothing no schools, also children marrying at very tender age after completing secondary and could not go forward” he said.
“Since the funding was cut from UN Agencies what refugee commission did was to buy land for refugees to cultivate” he added
Daud appreciated South Sudan government for commitment toward the protection of the refugees in the country.
He added that while some of the refugees are in the camps many of them have been integrated into communities after registration
He added that the commission focus on the protection of the refugees
Beside that the commission continue to support the refugees to form their organization such as Refugees Lead Organizations (RLO)
On his part Anyama Saviour Alex Community Engagement Specialist Ministry of Agriculture and Food securityexpressed that the athletics games were meant to peaceful coexistence among the host community and the refugees.
“For both and host communities we bring them together through sports so that they are able to co-exist” he said
He called on the government and the partners to continue with the support to ensure that refugees are protected and empowered.
