Amid tit-for-tat attacks between locals and refugees sparked by food shortages in an area of South Sudan's volatile Upper Nile state, the United Nations refugee agency said today that it is gravely concerned about new tensions rising in the region.

“Local residents [in Maban County] are now demanding that the some 60,000 refugees in Yusuf Batil and Gendrassa camps leave within two months,” Fatoumata Lejeune-Kaba, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told journalists in Geneva, adding that hostilities have also spread to Doro and Kaya camps.

While stressing that UNHCR is working with authorities and other humanitarian agencies to diffuse the tensions, she explained that competition for natural resources – including firewood, grass and grazing land – has recently boiled over into “tit-for-tat” attacks, forcing up to 8,000 refugees to flee Yusuf Batil camp.

“Houses, tents and granaries belonging to refugees and villagers alike were set on fire during the fighting. Although refugees have since returned to the camp, tensions persist. Maban residents living near Yusuf Batil camp have fled, citing fear of further confrontation with refugees who outnumber them,” Ms. Lejeune-Kaba said.

According to UNHCR, since armed conflict between Government and rebel forces broke out in South Sudan in mid-December, instability and conflict in the region have disrupted planting and harvesting. At the same time, insecurity along transportation routes has hampered the delivery of food and other humanitarian supplies.

During the first week of March, refugees across Maban's four camps received a 10-day ration of pulses and oil. Pulses and oil cover only 24 per cent of the daily energy needs of 2,100 kcal. Shortages have left them without cereals and salt for several weeks. In addition, some key non-food items, including fuel and medicine, are running out.

“There is a need to ensure adequate supplies are in place before the onset of the rains or else all deliveries will have to be undertaken by air,” stressed Ms. Lejeune-Kaba. “Without enough to eat, refugees have been growing restless. Some have threatened to return to Sudan's Blue Nile state, which they fled because of continuing armed conflict,” she noted.

For the complete article, please see UN News Centre.