Emergency Response Underway in South Sudan’s Gorom Refugee Settlement
Temporary shelters and water stations established for displaced Sudanese refugees
In the wake of violent anti-Sudanese riots in South Sudan in January 2025, more than 6,800 Sudanese refugees fled from Juba and nearby areas to Gorom Refugee Settlement seeking safety. These are refugees who were already displaced from their homes in Sudan as a result of the ongoing civil war. As of April, many remain in temporary tents, too fearful of ongoing violence to leave Gorom. This influx has pushed Gorom’s population from 15,300 to over 22,000, more than five times the camp’s intended capacity.
Peace Winds is the lead organization providing water, sanitation, and hygiene services in Gorom. Our team responded quickly by installing new water storage tanks and handwashing stations to serve the incoming refugees at three key locations, including a school that was being used as a shelter. Once classes resumed, the tanks were relocated elsewhere within the settlement. Temporary toilets were also constructed to help address growing sanitation needs.
UNHCR, which manages the camp, arranged to have trucks deliver the water needed for the new facilities. However, in late February, the delivery was halted due to sudden U.S. government cuts to foreign assistance. These funding gaps have made it difficult for UNHCR and Peace Winds to maintain emergency water services, forcing us to postpone annual sanitation projects and stretching existing resources beyond their limits.
The newly installed water storage tanks and stations were designed to support increased demand, but without a steady supply of water being trucked in, they remain largely unusable. Since water deliveries were halted, both newly displaced Sudanese refugees and long-term residents have been forced to rely on a small number of existing water points. With Gorom’s population swelling by another 40%, the pressure on these limited resources has intensified. Long lines have become a daily reality, and residents often wait for hours just to access enough water for basic needs.
The situation has been further exacerbated by a cholera outbreak among Sudanese refugees in South Sudan and growing frustration among residents who cannot access timely medical care. With healthcare services also strained by funding cuts, Peace Winds is working urgently to relaunch key health and hygiene activities through emergency support.
Water trucks halted, and refugees crowded a few remaining water stations.
Handwashing stations installed to curb the spread of disease
The Peace Winds team in South Sudan remains committed to meeting the needs of new and long-term residents of Gorom. This project is supported by funding allocated through UNHCR, as well as donations from individuals and corporations.