By Emmanuel Mandella

The war in Sudan, now in its second year, is casting a long and painful shadow over neighboring South Sudan, which is grappling with the sudden influx of more than one million people fleeing the prolonged conflict.

Martje van Raamsdonk, Head of Programme in South Sudan for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), says the consequences are dire, not only for the displaced but for the already vulnerable host communities.

“Many of the people who cross into South Sudan are arriving in border areas that are already in catastrophic conditions,” van Raamsdonk explained.

She added that “There’s poor infrastructure, limited humanitarian access, and barely enough resources to support the population that was already there—let alone the new arrivals.”

According to humanitarian agencies, the pressure is mounting in transit towns like Renk, Malakal, and Rubkona, where makeshift shelters line dusty roads and access to clean water and food is rapidly dwindling.

Many returnees are South Sudanese who had previously sought refuge in Sudan during earlier conflicts, now forced to flee again—only to arrive in areas still recovering from South Sudan’s own internal crises.

“South Sudan is facing a crisis on top of a crisis. We are talking about one of the most fragile countries in the world, trying to absorb the shockwaves of a war it did not start,” van Raamsdonk emphasized.

The economic implications are also severe. Local markets are overwhelmed, food prices are skyrocketing, and public services—where they exist—are stretched thin.

The South Sudanese government and aid organizations are calling for increased international support to stabilize the situation and prevent a wider humanitarian disaster.

Residents in Yambio and other border regions express fear that the continued instability in Sudan may further undermine South Sudan’s path to peace and development.

“We are welcoming our brothers and sisters, but we are suffering together,” said Simon Undorani, a community elder in Western Equatoria. “Our land is open, but our hands are empty.”

With the ongoing conflict in Sudan and the regional dynamics becoming increasingly complex, the burden on South Sudan is growing heavier by the day.

As van Raamsdonk puts it: “If this continues without urgent and sustained support, both Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese citizens will pay the price.”