UNHCR to establish more camps for South Sudanese refugees

The UN refugee agency said Friday it will establish more camps and expand existing ones in east Africa for South Sudanese refugees as fighting between the government and rebels continue in the world's youngest nation, Xinhua reported.

The new camps will be set up in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia. The agency said refugees are facing challenges in terms of clean water, health, sanitation, shelter and education.

Citing statistics from the government, the UNHCR said over 86,000 South Sudanese have crossed into neighbouring countries including Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia since fighting erupted in South Sudan December last year.

"There are now 46,579 South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. Ethiopia has so far received 20,624, and Kenya at least 8,900," the agency said in a statement.

"With people still arriving at a rate of around 1,000 a day, we are looking at the prospect of refugee numbers exceeding 100,000 by the end of January," UNHCR said.

UNHCR said it currently needs $88 million to respond to the humanitarian crisis inside South Sudan as well as in the surrounding region.