Delivering safe passage and medical support for 110 refugees across South Sudan

Many locations were remote and high-risk, with limited infrastructure and no safe ground routes. Three regions required flights due to terrain and security threats - Maban, in particular, had no access to commercial flights.

Coordination with UNHCR was essential to secure permissions for refugee movement between camps and the capital.

Further complicating matters, many applicants had urgent medical issues. Our team handled serious cases including open wounds, fevers, ringworm, suspected monkeypox, pregnancy, and a life-threatening bleeding mass requiring a blood transfusion.

Movements had to be staggered across different days and locations, with accommodation, meals, transport and medical support provided throughout.

Our Humanitarian Assistance team secured flights for high-risk regions, including a charter from Maban and later, a UNHAS flight for our team’s safe return. Ground teams pre-positioned to manage overland travel from camps to airports, coordinating each handover to keep applicants safe and on schedule.

Our support ran 24/7. Medical escalations were managed immediately with field leaders overseeing care on the ground. In one case, when an urgent blood transfusion was needed, our own team offered to donate. Though the blood type was not a match, the act underlined our commitment to the wellbeing of each applicant.

Daily movement plans were carefully managed by region, allowing all 150+ medical appointments to take place as scheduled.

Every applicant completed their IME and biometric appointments, taking a vital step towards their citizenship journey. Our work helped refugees - many of whom had spent their lives in camps - move closer to a safer, more stable future.

Despite conflict, illness, and operational risk, no one was left behind.