The estimated population of people who fled their homes within Jonglei State is nearing half a million. The figure reaches to well over half a million if the number of Jonglei natives who fled to neighboring states and countries is included in the tally.

The United Nations estimates that approximately 471,100 people are internally displaced within Jonglei State. Another 132,500 displaced people are in neighboring Lakes state, most of whom are from Jonglei.

Other state residents crossed into Ethiopia or southward to Equatoria or beyond.

Sudan’s last census carried out in 2008 put the population of the state at 1.36 million people. This means that at least 40% of the population have fled from their homes and taken refuge elsewhere.

According to the UN aid coordination agency (OCHA), the situation “remains tense” in Jonglei state. The UN agency reported yesterday “clashes and youth mobilization in parts of Jonglei,” adding, “people continued to flee into neighbouring countries.”

The UN says that during the past week it deployed a ‘rapid response’ team of aid workers to assist 6,000 people in Duk County. Another team assisted 21,000 people in Gorwai in Ayod County, and also in Mogok.

At Gorwai, aid workers have reported a “dire nutrition situation particularly of people traveling from further away distances.”

Other teams were sent to New Fangak and Lankien. 

Top image: Internal displacement by state as of 24 July 2014 (OCHA)

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