Jul 7, 2012

Refugees fleeing from the violence in North Sudan are crowding into the Yida refugee camp in South Sudan. Currently swollen beyond 64,000 people, each day the camp sees 500-1,000 new arrivals. Due to the rainy season, many are suffering from severe cases of diarrhea, malaria and malnutrition. Meanwhile, sanitation issues have caused increasing illness, and field hospitals report 95 percent of all patients are under the age five. So far, no food shortages have been reported, but the international aid community continues to struggle to provide basic medical assistance and proper sanitation.

Getty Images photographer Paula Bronstein reports back from inside the camp with the following emotional series of photographs beginning with her arrival on June 29.

: JUNE 29: A dirt road leads to the border from this aerial photo near Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan June 29, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The international aid community is struggling to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JUNE 29: White tents scatter the landscape as seen from this aerial photo of the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan June 29, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The international aid community is struggling to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JUNE 29: A woman holds her grandson at a malnutrition and feeding center at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan June 29, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JUNE 29: Souad, 14 months old gets an intravenous line put in her small arm by local medical staff at a malnutrition and feeding center at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan June 29, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JUNE 29: A Sudanese mother holds her baby waiting for food at a malnutrition and feeding center at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan June 29, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, with most arriving with only the clothes they are wearing. Many of the new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JUNE 29: Rebecca,4 years, lays in the inpatient ward at a malnutrition and feeding center at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan June 29, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JUNE 30: New arrivals wait in long lines to register with UNHCR at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan June 30, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Water has been a precious resource that aid agencies have struggled with. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan with new arrivals at 300-600 a day. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JUNE 30: Sudanese girls jump rope as many look on at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan June 30, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Water has been a precious resource that aid agencies have struggled with. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan with new arrivals at 300-600 a day. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JUNE 30: New arrivals wait in long lines to register with UNHCR at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan June 30, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Water has been a precious resource that aid agencies have struggled with. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan with new arrivals at 300-600 a day. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 1: Bolis Jamal, 3, stands near his temporary shelter suffering from malnutrition at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan July 1, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. The small boy arrived a few months ago from North Sudan with his family escaping the violence. Water has been a precious resource that aid agencies have struggled with. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan with new arrivals at 300-600 a day. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 1: Sudanese refugees listen to a sermon as they come to pray at a makeshift church at the Yida refugee camp close to the border with North Sudan July 1, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan with new arrivals at 300-600 a day. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 1: Sudanese children look out from the new arrivals camp at the Yida refugee camp close to the border with North Sudan July 1, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan with new arrivals at 300-600 a day. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 1: Kaka Sauirs looks out of her temporary shelter after arriving two days before to the Yida refugee camp close to the border with North Sudan July 1, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan with new arrivals at 300-600 a day. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 1: Sudanese refugees rejoice in prayer in a makeshift church at the Yida refugee camp, close to the border with North Sudan, on July 01, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. The Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan, with new arrivals at 300-600 a day. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from diarrhea and severe malnutrition, as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population. Most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals have walked from between 5 days and 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 2: A Sudanese girl hides her face from the hot sun after walking for many hours along the border road after crossing from North Sudan July 2, 2012 in Jaw, South Sudan. Many refugees walk from four days to two weeks, fleeing the on-going conflict, to get to Yida refugee camp from the Nuba mountain region where they have no food. The Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000 people as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan, with 300-600 people arriving daily. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition, as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population. Most have arrive with only the clothes they are wearing. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 2: Sudanese refugees walk along the border road after crossing from North Sudan carrying their possessions July 2, 2012 in Jaw, South Sudan. Many refugees walk from four days to two weeks, fleeing the on-going conflict, to get to Yida refugee camp from the Nuba mountain region where they have no food. The Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000 people as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan, with 300-600 people arriving daily. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition, as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population. Most have arrive with only the clothes they are wearing. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 2: A Sudanese refugees walks along the border road after crossing from North Sudan carrying their possessions July 2, 2012 in Jaw, South Sudan. Many refugees walk from four days to two weeks, fleeing the on-going conflict, to get to Yida refugee camp from the Nuba mountain region where they have no food. The Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000 people as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan, with 300-600 people arriving daily. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition, as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population. Most have arrive with only the clothes they are wearing. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 2: Kaka Sauirs looks from her temporary shelter, after arriving two days previously at the Yida refugee camp, close to the border with North Sudan, on July 02, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. The Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan, with new arrivals at 300-600 a day. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from diarrhea and severe malnutrition, as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population. Most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals have walked from between 5 days and 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 2: Sudanese refugees walk along the border road after crossing from North Sudan carrying their possessions July 2, 2012 in Jaw, South Sudan. Many refugees walk from four days to two weeks, fleeing the on-going conflict, to get to Yida refugee camp from the Nuba mountain region where they have no food. The Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000 people as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan, with 300-600 people arriving daily. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition, as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population. Most have arrive with only the clothes they are wearing. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 3: New arrivals wait in long lines for hours to register with UNHCR at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan July 3, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp grows by each day and now has swollen to well over 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The numbers of refugees arriving from north Sudan vary from 500 to 1,000 a day. Water has been a precious resource that aid agencies have struggled with. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 3: New arrivals wait in long lines for hours to register with UNHCR at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan July 3, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp grows by each day and now has swollen to well over 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The numbers of refugees arriving from north Sudan vary from 500 to 1,000 a day. Water has been a precious resource that aid agencies have struggled with. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 3: New arrivals wait in long lines for hours to register with UNHCR at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan July 3, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp grows by each day and now has swollen to well over 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The numbers of refugees arriving from north Sudan vary from 500 to 1,000 a day. Water has been a precious resource that aid agencies have struggled with. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 4: New arrivals crowd together living in makeshift shelter at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan July 4, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp grows each day and now has swollen to 64,317, as the refugees continue to flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The numbers of refugees arriving from North Sudan vary from 500 to 1,000 a day. Many new arrivals walked from 3 to 5 days to reach the camp without food. The rainy season has increased the numbers suffering from diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the field hospitals have 95% of their patients are children under the age of five. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 4: A girl’s arm is measured at a field hospital for malnourished children at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan July 4, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp grows each day and now has swollen to 64,317, as the refugees continue to flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The numbers of refugees arriving from North Sudan vary from 500 to 1,000 a day. Many new arrivals walked from 3 to 5 days to reach the camp without food. The rainy season has increased the numbers suffering from diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the field hospitals have 95% of their patients are children under the age of five. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 4: New arrivals crowd together living in makeshift shelter at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan July 4, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp grows each day and now has swollen to 64,317, as the refugees continue to flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The numbers of refugees arriving from North Sudan vary from 500 to 1,000 a day. Many new arrivals walked from 3 to 5 days to reach the camp without food. The rainy season has increased the numbers suffering from diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the field hospitals have 95% of their patients are children under the age of five. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 5: People wait in line for hours to receive medical treatment at the CARE medical clinic at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan July 5, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. The number of people arriving at the Yida refugee camp increases every day with the current population exceeding 64,000, as refugees continue to flee South Kordofan in North Sudan. Refugees arriving from the North can number between 500 to 1,000 a day and many have experienced long, arduous journeys without food to reach the camp. The rainy season has increased the numbers suffering from diarrhea, severe malnutrition and malaria. Even with refugees having food, there are sanitation issues causing increasing incidents of illness with the field hospitals saying that 95% of all patients are under the age of five. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 5: People wait in line for hours to receive medical treatment at the CARE medical clinic at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan July 5, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. The number of people arriving at the Yida refugee camp increases every day with the current population exceeding 64,000, as refugees continue to flee South Kordofan in North Sudan. Refugees arriving from the North can number between 500 to 1,000 a day and many have experienced long, arduous journeys without food to reach the camp. The rainy season has increased the numbers suffering from diarrhea, severe malnutrition and malaria. Even with refugees having food, there are sanitation issues causing increasing incidents of illness with the field hospitals saying that 95% of all patients are under the age of five. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 5: A Sudanese woman sits outside her hut on a rainy afternoon at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan July 5, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp grows each day and now has swollen to 64,317, as the refugees continue to flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The numbers of refugees arriving from North Sudan vary from 500 to 1,000 a day. Many new arrivals walked from 3 to 5 days to reach the camp without food. The rainy season has increased the numbers suffering from diarrhea, severe malnutrition and malaria. Even with refugees having food, there are sanitation issues causing the increased illness with the field hospitals saying that 95% of all patients are under the age of five. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 6: Sudanese girls hang out on a tree at the Yida refugee camp July 6, 2012 in Yida, South Sudan. Yida refugee camp grows each day and now has swollen to 64,317, as the refugees continue to flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan. The numbers of refugees arriving from North Sudan vary from 500 to 1,000 a day. Many new arrivals have walked from 3 to 5 days to reach the camp, most without food. The rainy season has increased the numbers suffering from diarrhea, severe malnutrition and malaria with sanitation issues causing the increased illness. Field hospitals say that 95% of all patients are under the age of five. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

: JULY 6: A Sudanese family rests along the border road, they have been walking for the past 3 days from North Sudan July 6, 2012 along the border road, South Sudan. Many refugees have been walking for 4 to 5 days to get to Yida refugee camp from the Nuba mountain region where they have no food and are fleeing the on-going conflict. Yida refugee camp has swollen to nearly 60,000, as the refugees flee from South Kordofan in North Sudan with new arrivals at 300-600 a day. The rainy season has increased the numbers of sick children suffering from Diarrhea and severe malnutrition as the international aid community struggles to provide basic assistance to the growing population, most have arrived with only the clothes they are wearing. Many new arrivals walked from 5 days up to 2 weeks or more to reach the camp. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

FACTBOX-Sudan and South Sudan border tensions
Reuters
2:31 p.m. EDT, June 19, 2012

June 19 (Reuters) – Former civil war foes Sudan and South Sudan are expected to resume security talks on June 21 after clashes in their contested borderlands and rows over oil payments continue to stoke tensions. Here is a look at the contentious border areas:

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One Comment

Mirembe
Oct 02, 2012 @ 21:58:36

These photographs are incredible; they offer such good insight to the Yada IDP camp and the Nuba Mountain refugees. I can research the situation for hours on end, but seeing these photographs means so much more.

Yida refugee camp surges past 64,000 in South Sudan

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