The recent fighting near the border between Sudan and South Sudan has displaced some 35,000 people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The displaced are from areas around the disputed oil town of Heglig, Talodi and other parts of South Kordofan. UNHCR says it has no access to the region, but is using its local partners to distribute relief supplies. UNHCR says it is concerned over the safety of about 20,000 refugees accommodated at a camp near the border and is advising them to urgently move to safer areas. Adrian Edwards from UNHCR says 2,000 refugees have so far been moved. “The three refugee sites in Unity state have thus far not been directly affected. We have nonetheless seen an increase in the number of Sudanese refugees crossing the border, some of them seriously malnourished. Months of intermittent fighting have driven more than 115,000 Sudanese refugees into South Sudan and nearly 30,000 into Ethiopia.” Edwards said He also appealed to both governments to avoid displacing more IDPs: “Many more could follow if the conflict escalates. UNHCR appeals to the governments of Sudan and South Sudan, and to other parties to these conflicts, to do their utmost to avoid displaced civilians being placed in harm’s way, and to avoid actions that could displace more people.”