The spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres said the UN is concerned about the welfare of civilians fleeing insecurity in Blue Nile State, in the south-east of Sudan, as well as the lack of access for humanitarians to reach them. 

Stéphane Dujarric, while briefing the media on Monday in New York, said local authorities estimate that 4,000 people displaced from Ullu and other towns in Baw locality have been moving north-east toward the state capital of Ed Damazine, which is about 230 kilometres away.

“So far, some 600 people have arrived and are sheltering at a displacement site. Ongoing insecurity and bureaucratic constraints have prevented humanitarian partners from reaching impacted areas, he stated. “We call again for safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need.”             

“New arrivals from South Sudan have also been reported in other parts of Blue Nile in recent weeks, demonstrating the growing complexity of the situation in the region,” Dujarric added.  Radio Tamazuj