Conducting the long-awaited camp-to-camp relocation, IOM transported 38,720 South Sudanese refugees from Leitchour and Nip Nip to Jewi camp in Gambella in Just 12 days. The operation which is aimed to keep refugees safe from the upcoming rainy season has helped to avoid flooding of refugees in camps.

Since May 2015, over 443 buses, 86 trucks, and a Helicopter and have been deployed to evacuate 2,226 refugees from Nip Nip and 28,525 from Leitchour. More the refugees were airlifted by a helicopter supplied by UNHCR with IOM medical escort as they were vulnerable and not fit to travel by bus.

Since the beginning of this week (Monday 18^th May)convoy alone, IOM deployed 193 buses, 30 trucks and relocated 12,469 refugees. The relocation is the longest among all the convoys that the organization has carried out thus far.

In total there were 50,000 refugees in Leitchour camp awaiting to be relocated. IOM hopes to relocate the remaining refugees from Leitchour before the end of May 2015.  

Since the conflict broke out in December 2013, the total number of refugees IOM has relocated has surpassed 2109. The movement of refugees is carried out for two major reasons; to evacuate refugees from boarder entry points in Gambela and Benishangul-Gumuz Regions and camp-to-camp relocations.

It is to be recalled that a major flooding last year has forced many refugees to seek shelter in higher grounds. The current camp-to-camp relocation, which was started as of 08 May 2015, is a result of months of planning and preparation by IOM the Administration for Refugees and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) and the UNHCR.

Since the conflict broke out, the total number of South Sudanese refugees crossing into neighboring countries has surpassed 528,540 individuals. Ethiopia has received the highest number of refugees with a total of over 200,000 refugees.

With both sides not reaching agreement to stop the conflict, more and more refugees have kept on crossing into neighboring countries every day.