South Sudanese who fled Ukraine to Poland safe – gov’t
The South Sudanese nationals who fled Ukraine to Poland have found safe refuge, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has said.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deng Dau Deng, told The City Review that five South Sudanese students, 3 girls and 2 boys from Kharkiv City in Eastern part of the country fled unarmed.
Deng Dau Deng said all students crossed safely to Poland and that the government instructed South Sudan’s Embassy in Germany to follow the students up.
On Thursday last week, the Russian forces invaded Ukraine and waged a war that has led to thousands of African Students in Ukraine finding themselves trapped in the mayhem.
However, Dau said those who fled Ukraine were welcomed in Ploland by the United Nations.
“The first step is that the students have reported to Poland and the UNHCR have responded to provide them with support and thereafter if there are any details after that, they will be discussed and all the students are out of Ukraine,” Deng confirmed.
The government of Poland is reportedly providing protection while critical services are being delivered by UNHCR. Dau said the South Sudan government is seeing how they can extend support to the students.
On Friday, the government had requested diplomats in European countries to know the number of South Sudanese Students in Ukraine and Russia after tension between the two countries had started.
Deng told Eye radio that the Ministry of Foreign affairs was concerned about the situation in Ukraine due to the insecurity and safety of the South Sudanese students in Ukraine.
The minister also confirmed that the country does not have an embassy in Ukraine.
“We have asked our diplomats to give us information regarding the citizens of South Sudan in Ukraine, Students or citizens who have taken refuge there. As soon as we get the information, we will be able to share it with you. We have asked our embassies across Europe and Moscow to give us the details of South Sudanese in Ukraine,” he said
