Makeshift tents at a camp in South Sudan. Photo: Supplied / World Vision
The vicious power struggle between Sudan's rival military leaders is raging on, now in its eighth week.
Sudan is the third-largest country in Africa, with a population of more than 45 million. Around 11 million people lack access to clean water and sanitation and 10 million don't have access to essential medical services.
This latest conflict has only made the existing humanitarian crisis worse, displacing nearly 1 million.
Former journalist Phil Johnstone has been working with World Vision, and has just returned to New Zealand after three-and-a-half weeks in Sudan, visiting refugee and returnee transit camps.
"They've come through risky situations, they're stressed out and then they're in a transit camp waiting. People who are tired, hungry and they're waiting. Sitting under trees to get out of the intense heat."
The refugees had their basic needs met with one hot meal a day and sanitation.
A mother and daughter at a camp in South Sudan. Photo: Supplied / World Vision
Many of them crossing the border were returnees, after having fled conflict in South Sudan.
"Here they are coming back, having to repeat that journey and start again."
The head of the armed forces General Abdel Fattah a-Burhan was clashing with the leader of the paramilitary force the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Neither can agree on the direction of the country and how they will move towards civilian rule; the main sticking point being how to integrate the RSF into the regular army.
Hundreds of thousands have fled Sudan into neighbouring countries, with as many more internally displaced.
Refugees in a transit camp in South Sudan. Photo: Supplied / World Vision
In South Sudan, Johnstone said the aim of the government was to get the refugees or returnees resettled as soon as possible.
"The policy the government are trying to push through is 15 days in the transit camp before arranged transport on boats or trucks to get them resettled back into South Sudan."
For those coming across the border, safety was the priority.
Johnstone said a last memory from his visit was how vulnerable displaced people were to exploitation and violence.
A World Vision border protection officer on the northwest border told Johnstone a series of local militia checkpoints were set up 60km on the other side of the border.
As people were fleeing and travelling towards safety, they were faced with the checkpoints.
"It's local militia, people with guns, and the story is, 'Give us money, give us possessions - what else have you got?' There are stories of people being stabbed and tortured and others being killed.
"What a horrendous and gut-wrenching situation".
People inspect the rubble at a house that was hit by an artillery shell in the Azhari district in the south of Khartoum on 6 June, 2023. Photo: AFP
The human cost of this conflict in Sudan has been profound. There have been at least 1800 fatalities and the fighting has also taken a toll on the country's economy, costing an estimated NZ$5.5 billion according to the country's former finance minister, Ibrahim Elbadawi.
In South Sudan, the nation already faces challenges with food insecurity and intercommunal violence - add to that 70,000 people spilling over from Sudan in recent weeks.
"This is a story of conflict survival but also a displacement shockwave," Johnstone said. "It's hugely worrying, particularly for mothers and children."
