Sudan Prepares For Refugees Influx Amid Conflict Escalation in South Sudan

DUBAI (Sputnik) — Fierce clashes between forces loyal to Kiir and those supporting Machar occurred in the South Sudanese capital of Juba on July 7, on the eve of Independence Day. The violence continued later in the week, claiming lives of hundreds. On Monday, the leaders of the rival parties ordered their forces to disengage. 

At the meeting dedicated to the discussion of development of situation in South Sudan chaired by Sudanese Vice-President Sudan Hassabo Mohammed Abdul Rahman, State Minister of Foreign Affairs said that Sudan is preparing "for dealing with the expected influxes to Sudan by the big numbers of the citizens of the State of South Sudan," as cited by the Sudanese news agency SUNA.

Earlier on Tuesday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it was concerned by the escalation of hostilities in South Sudan, adding that the crisis in this country had already displaced millions of people, both internally and outside the African nation.

An armed ethnic conflict erupted in South Sudan in December 2013, a year and a half after the nation gained independence from Sudan, when Kiir accused Machar of preparing a military coup. In August 2015, Kiir and Machar signed a peace deal that envisaged the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity.

According to the IOM data, the crisis forced some 720,000 to flee to neighboring countries and displaced over 1.6 million internally.