Malakal, South Sudan – August 4, 2025

The city of Malakal in Upper Nile State is buckling under the weight of mass displacement as thousands of South Sudanese returnees and Sudanese refugees flee the ongoing war in Sudan. Since April 2023, over 572,000 people have crossed into South Sudan, with many arriving in Malakal, a key entry point. The UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) site, originally built for 18,000, now houses 46,000, leading to severe overcrowding and strained resources.

Families like that of Nyankhor Ayuel, a 32-year-old mother of three, describe harrowing journeys to reach safety, only to face new challenges in Malakal. “We fled bombs in Khartoum, but here we sleep in the open, with no food or water,” she said. The influx has sparked tensions with local communities over scarce resources, raising fears of intercommunal violence. UNHCR reports that 85% of returnees face crisis-level food insecurity, exacerbating the strain.

Aid agencies, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), are struggling to provide shelter and basic services. “The scale of displacement is unprecedented,” said an IOM spokesperson. “We urgently need funding to expand camps and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.” The UN estimates 337,000 more arrivals in 2025, underscoring the need for international support to stabilize Malakal.