JUBA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- When Najaa Al-Fadl fled the Sudan conflict, she hoped that crossing into South Sudan would offer her children a chance to rebuild their lives.
However, three years after its outbreak in mid-April 2023, the turmoil lingers, with hopes for security remaining fragile.
Al-Fadl, now working at a small local restaurant, still struggles to put food on the table, while her children remain out of school and live in a transit center in Upper Nile State.
"We are living in peace, but other things are not in place," she said, citing the lack of education and stable income.
Nearby, Nyawal Chok, a South Sudanese returnee who came back from Sudan in 2024, faces a similar reality. In the same transit hub, her children show signs of hunger, and the future remains uncertain as new waves of displaced families continue to arrive.
The ripple effects of the Sudan conflict have extended far beyond its borders, turning Renk County in Upper Nile State into a critical entry point for refugees fleeing violence and returnees heading home. For many, displacement has become a prolonged struggle rather than a temporary setback.
Children have borne the brunt of the crisis. Many have missed years of schooling as families move between countries or remain stranded in transit centers.
In Renk, the education system is struggling to cope with the surge in enrollment.
"We received a very large number of children, and this put great pressure on schools to absorb them," said Alier Kur Chol, Renk County's education director.
At Abukadra Primary School, which reopened in February after years of closure due to insecurity, overcrowding is evident.
Puot Biel Nyak, a primary school teacher, said his classroom has about 200 learners, most of them returnees from Sudan.
"It is too much for one class. It is not easy to manage them or ensure they all understand the lessons," Nyak said.
Shortages of desks, learning materials, and uniforms further complicate the situation, while many families cannot afford even the most basic school requirements.
Despite these challenges, Nyak said teachers continue their work, even as some go unpaid.
Humanitarian efforts, though stretched and fragile, are underway. With support from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and partners, the county has introduced additional classrooms, evening sessions, and alternative learning programs to ease the strain.
Beyond education, health and nutrition services are also under increasing strain. At Abukadra Primary Health Care Centre, UNICEF-supported programs are treating a growing number of malnourished children.
Jansuk Alex, a nutrition specialist with UNICEF in Renk, said the facility is overwhelmed. "We have a number of mothers and children being enrolled for treatment, including those with severe acute malnutrition," Alex told Xinhua.
According to UNICEF, more than 1,200 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition receive treatment each month across the county, through health facilities and outreach programs, supported by health workers, community volunteers and mother-to-mother networks.
Alex warned that continued support is critical. "If funding is not maintained, the condition of these children could worsen, and some may not survive."
Despite ongoing humanitarian efforts, many families say assistance remains insufficient, forcing them to rely on informal work, community support, and personal resilience to get by.
For Al-Fadl, Chok, and many others, life in Renk remains a delicate balance between safety and hardship, a place where conflict may have been left behind, but its consequences endure. ■