5900 South Sudanese refugees arrived in Sudan's South Kordofan state between July and September, bringing the total number of southern refugees to 24,400 in the state, the UN said.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said the new arrivals are in El Leri and Abu Jubaiha areas near the border with South Sudan's Upper Nile state. The refugees are in need of adequate drinking water, sanitation services, food, and health care, UNHCR said.

UNHCR said the refugees have resorted to drinking unclean water in Darbeti camp in El Leri locality.

198,707 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Sudan since the south's civil war began two years ago.