7 January 2014 - As fighting in parts of South Sudan continues despite ceasefire talks, thousands of civilians are fleeing to neighbouring countries, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported today.

The agency had registered 23,500 refugees in Uganda by yesterday, following violence that broke out between pro and anti-government forces over three weeks ago.

“They are now crossing (from South Sudan) at a rate of up to 2,500 people a day," UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming told a news briefing in Geneva.

The new arrivals come at a time when UNHCR's Uganda office is trying to cope with a continuing influx of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

"We still have 8,000 new Congolese arrivals at three reception centres in western Uganda, so our staff and our supplies are stretched," Ms. Fleming said.

Smaller but growing numbers of South Sudanese refugees are also fleeing to other neighbouring countries. More than 5,300 refugees have been registered in Ethiopia – though the number is likely higher as the remote border area is difficult to access.

In north-west Kenya's Kakuma Refugee Camp, where as many as 300 South Sudanese are now arriving daily, UNHCR staff registered 3,173 new arrivals by Sunday evening.

The situation in Sudan remains less clear. At least several hundred South Sudanese have crossed the border, and perhaps several thousand. But with many groups, including nomads and rebels, active in the area, it is uncertain how many are refugees, Ms. Fleming said.

Inside South Sudan, UNHCR is operating with a reduced staff of 200 people due to fighting and insecurity throughout much of the country, but it continues to supply services to some 230,000 existing refugees at 10 camps in South Sudan.

"We have also been taking on increased responsibilities for the 57,000 civilians taking refuge in 10 UN compounds throughout the country,” Ms. Fleming stressed. “We are helping lead efforts to protect especially vulnerable people like women and children. And we have brought in experts in areas such as site planning and camp management."

Yesterday a chartered flight arrived in Juba carrying essential relief items from UNHCR's stockpiles in Nairobi, including 12,500 blankets, 2,500 sets of cooking pots and other kitchen equipment, and 4,000 plastic sheets to shelter 20,000 displaced people in and around the capital.

In Maban, north-eastern South Sudan, just four UNHCR international staff and 11 national staff have been working with partners and refugees to serve 120,000 refugees in four camps, making sure that health services remain available and water pumps are still working.

UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP) together have distributed food rations to the refugees for 45 days instead of the normal 30 days, so that they will be able to eat if services are disrupted.

Operating in Unity State remains dangerous and unpredictable. Last week, UNHCR lost six pick-up trucks to looters, who also helped themselves to barrels of fuel and spare parts for vehicles and water pumps in Yida.

The South Sudanese government has declared a state of emergency in Unity and Jonglei states. With opposition forces now controlling Bor, the Jonglei capital, a large government military contingent has moved north to Pariang, close to Yida and Ajuong Thok camps.

"As a result, we are greatly worried about any effects of the fighting on the refugees and on our ability to serve them. We remind all parties to the conflict that refugee camps must remain civilian in character," Ms. Fleming said.

On other fronts, the UNMISS, continues to protect approximately 62,000 civilians at its bases, with humanitarian actors providing relief and support. This includes nearly 30,000 at its two Juba bases, a UN spokesperson said today.