‘With daily reports of violence and worsening tensions, a political solution is urgently needed to mitigate the increasing suffering of civilians,’ says IOM East Africa Regional Director.
Jeffrey Labovitz warns in a statement on Tuesday that the regional impact of the crisis is rising alarmingly.
He adds that the number of South Sudanese crossing international borders for safety grows each day.
Over 894,800 South Sudanese have fled to neighbouring countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda, since the civil war broke out in 2013, according to UNHCR.
An additional 1.61 million people are displaced within South Sudan’s borders, both to displacement sites and remote areas.
The regional humanitarian response to the needy requires long-term planning, improved access to civilians and sustained efforts to secure freedom of movement for those forced to across the borders, he believes.
Humanitarian workers are facing growing access constraints, hindering their ability to reach conflict-affected populations in many parts of the country, IOM reports.