The African Development Bank (AFDB) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have joined forces to assist displaced people and their host communities in South Sudan, which has seen an influx of over half a million refugees since the conflict in neighboring Sudan began last year.
This influx has severely strained South Sudan’s already stretched resources, as many of the arrivals are South Sudanese who have been living in Sudan for decades. They often return to villages lacking basic services and humanitarian assistance.
To address this growing crisis, senior officials from the AFDB and UNHCR conducted a joint visit to the Gendarussas Refugee Camp in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State. Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, the Bank’s Vice President for Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery, and Raouf Mazou, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, met with government officials, refugees, and members of the host community.
“Our partnership with UNHCR aligns with the Bank’s strategy for addressing fragility and building resilience,” highlighted Akin-Olugbade. “We commend the South Sudanese government for their open-door policy towards these refugees and believe the international community should stand in solidarity.”
Mazou emphasized the potential for development interventions, stating, “We witnessed numerous opportunities that require funding beyond the scope of humanitarian actors. The AFDB and other development partners can play a crucial role in addressing these needs.”
This collaboration aligns with the growing global trend of closer cooperation between humanitarian and development actors.
Recognizing the interconnectedness of humanitarian crises and long-term development needs, these sectors are increasingly combining efforts to create sustainable solutions for displaced populations and their host communities.
