(ST)

East African refugees are flocking into the eastern part of Sudan at the rate of 1,800 each month, according to latest United Nations estimates.

The 66,000 refugees in camps in eastern Sudan – mainly from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia – face difficulties accessing basic services, education and protection, creating immense challenges in harsh surroundings, Africa Bureau Director of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) George Okoth-Obbo said.

Eastern Sudan is one of the oldest refugee situations in UNHCR’s history. The international refugee agency has been in this country working in the eastern region for 40 years.

Sudan, which is a hosting country for Eritrean refugees since the long separatist conflict with Ethiopia, saw their number increased considerably since last year.

Acute poverty, persistent drought and deprivation, lack of access to health care and education, high levels of unemployment as well as land degradation and shrinking pastures are hardships that refugees as well as the local population grapple with, he added.

The UNHCR also pointed out to the special conditions of children in these risks that female refugees in particular face are human trafficking, sexual violence, abuse and rape.

"Ensuring protection of children is a high priority for UNHCR," he further said.

There are some six thousand children who lack primary school because the camp’s schools have not the capacity to absorb them.

George said there 15,000 children in the 12 refugee camps in the East. "Many more fail to attend secondary school because families cannot afford the fees."