Maban County, located in Upper Nile State and bordering Sudan’s Blue Nile State, remains one of South Sudan’s most significant refugee-hosting areas. The county is home to an estimated 81,680 host community members, predominantly from the Mabanese and Koma tribes, alongside Nuer, Dinka, and Shilluk communities.

As of 31 January 2026, Maban hosts a total of 218,634 refugees in 44,372 households across the four camps of Yusuf Batil, Doro, Gendrassa, and Kaya. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has driven continued displacement, with Maban receiving an average of 26,527 new arrivals since April 2023. This steady influx places significant pressure on services, infrastructure, and limited humanitarian resources.

Persistent insecurity and the regional crisis continue to shape humanitarian needs in Maban. Refugees and host communities alike rely on UNHCR and partners for protection, shelter, basic services, and community-based support. Increased population density within the camps and the prolonged nature of displacement heightens vulnerabilities and reinforce the need for coordinated, multi-sectoral interventions.

UNHCR’s operational priorities in Maban focus on strengthening protection systems, ensuring access to essential services, mitigating protection risks, and supporting peaceful co-existence between refugee and host communities. In close coordination with government counterparts and partners, UNHCR continues to adapt its response to the evolving context while advocating for sustained humanitarian access and resources to meet growing needs.