Over 5,000 refugees, returnees arrive in Western Equatoria from Central Africa Republic

By Emmanuel Mandella

A growing humanitarian emergency is unfolding along South Sudan’s western border after thousands of people fleeing violence in the Central African Republic crossed into the country within weeks.

The arrival of the refugees and returnees has overwhelmed the fragile host communities and stretching already limited services to the brink.

More than 5,000 refugees and returnees have arrived into Western Equatoria State since the beginning of 2026, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), following renewed clashes and election-related tensions in Bambouti, southeastern Central African Republic (CAR).

Since the beginning of the year, the humanitarian agencies recorded the arrival of 5,052 individuals, including 2,699 refugees and 2,353 South Sudanese returnees, most of whom entered through the Source Yubu/Ri Yubu border crossing in Tombura County.

With no transit or reception facilities available at the border, the displaced families are now sheltering within already vulnerable host communities.

Aid officials warn that without urgent intervention, the situation could rapidly escalate into a full-scale humanitarian crisis.

“These families have escaped violence, insecurity, and fear, only to arrive in areas where basic services are extremely limited, immediate assistance is critical to stabilize conditions and protect lives,” UNHCR noted in a situation update.

The influx follows intensified fighting that erupted in late December 2025 between armed militias and government forces in Bambouti and surrounding areas of southeastern CAR. Civilians described chaotic scenes marked by shelling, looting, armed robbery, and intimidation along major escape routes.

Many families fled with little more than the clothes they were wearing. Some managed to pay for transport to the border, while others walked for days through forests and insecure territories to avoid armed groups.

Survivors arriving in Tombura County reported deep psychological distress after witnessing violence and displacement.

Humanitarian workers say prolonged journeys left many arrivals physically exhausted, malnourished, and highly vulnerable especially women, children, and the elderly.

“People arrived traumatized and fatigued after walking long distances under dangerous conditions,” one aid worker involved in initial assessments explained. “They are safe now, but their needs are immense.”

Unlike previous refugee influxes where reception centers were available, the current arrivals found no established transit facilities at the Source Yubu border area. As a result, local residents have opened their homes and shared scarce resources to accommodate the newcomers.

While the solidarity of host communities has helped prevent immediate homelessness, their limited capacity is now being stretched dangerously thin.

Western Equatoria already hosts nearly 2,900 CAR refugees who arrived during earlier waves of conflict, meaning the new arrivals are compounding an already protracted refugee situation.

Basic infrastructure in settlement areas remains almost nonexistent. There are no formal shelter systems, no reliable water supply, and no sanitation facilities, creating serious risks of disease outbreaks.

Health experts warn that the absence of clean water and hygiene services significantly increases the likelihood of waterborne illnesses such as cholera and diarrhea particularly among children.

The humanitarian situation is further complicated by the severe shortage of medical services. Currently, only one Primary Health Care Centre serves refugees, returnees, and host communities in Source Yubu.

Medical staff are struggling to cope with rising patient numbers while facing shortages of medicines and equipment.

Protection concerns are also growing, especially for vulnerable groups. Aid agencies report increasing numbers of separated and unaccompanied children requiring urgent family tracing, psychosocial support, and child protection services.

“The health and protection gaps are alarming,” humanitarian officials said. “Without rapid intervention, preventable illnesses and protection risks could escalate.”

Humanitarian agencies have identified the Makpandu Refugee Settlement near Yambio as a potential relocation site for vulnerable refugees. However, the camp lies approximately 300 kilometers away, making transportation difficult due to poor road conditions, funding shortages, and security constraints.

So far, about 700 refugees have expressed willingness to relocate to Makpandu. However, the majority prefer to remain close to the border, hoping to return home once security conditions improve in CAR or to pursue local integration opportunities.

This preference creates a complex humanitarian dilemma: aid must be delivered directly within host communities that lack the infrastructure to support large populations.

Several humanitarian organizations—including the Commission for Refugee Affairs (CRA), UNHCR, UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), World Vision, and medical partners—have conducted initial assessments.

However, emergency assistance has yet to be fully operationalized due to logistical challenges and limited operational presence in the remote border area.

MSF Spain and UNHCR are preparing to distribute non-food items (NFIs) and limited medical supplies, while emergency registration and profiling efforts continue.

As of January 25, authorities had completed registration of all 2,699 refugees and profiling of the 2,353 returnees. Still, critical support such as emergency shelter materials, household supplies, and food assistance remains pending.

Humanitarian agencies warn that chronic funding shortages are slowing the scale-up of emergency operations. Limited donor resources have constrained monitoring activities, emergency transportation, and expansion of protection services.

Without additional funding, aid organizations fear they may struggle to prevent worsening humanitarian conditions and potential tensions between refugees and host communities competing for scarce resources.

“Additional donor support is urgently needed,” UNHCR emphasized.

“We must strengthen emergency response capacity, expand protection services, and assist host communities that are carrying the heaviest burden.”

The crisis comes at a time when South Sudan itself continues to grapple with economic hardship, limited public services, and humanitarian needs across several states. Western Equatoria, though relatively stable compared to conflict-affected regions, faces infrastructure deficits that complicate large-scale humanitarian responses.

Local leaders and community members have shown remarkable solidarity by welcoming displaced families despite their own economic struggles a gesture humanitarian officials say deserves urgent international backing.

Aid agencies stress that immediate priorities include stabilizing living conditions at the border, providing emergency shelter and sanitation facilities, supporting overstretched host communities, and ensuring safe relocation options for the most vulnerable families.

Longer-term solutions will depend on improved security conditions in CAR, sustained humanitarian funding, and strengthened coordination between national authorities and international partners.

For now, thousands of displaced families remain caught between conflict and uncertainty seeking safety in communities that are doing their best to help but cannot cope alone.

“These people are not just statistics,” humanitarian officials said. “They are families searching for safety, dignity, and hope. The world must respond before this situation becomes a deeper humanitarian tragedy.”