Op-Ed: Why Immediate Refugee Registration Is Critical for Ulang and Nasir Displaced Populations

By Chudier JJ

In the wake of escalating conflict in South Sudan, particularly in Ulang and Nasir counties, a humanitarian emergency is unfolding with increasing urgency.

As violence continues to uproot families and devastate communities, a growing number of people are fleeing for safety across the border into Ethiopia. Amid this crisis, one step is both essential and time-sensitive: the immediate registration of these refugees.

Refugee registration may appear administrative on the surface, but in reality, it is a life-saving process. It is the gateway to dignity, protection, and survival for those who have lost everything. Without registration, refugees remain invisible—denied the services, protection, and recognition they desperately need.

Making the Invisible Visible

At its core, registration provides identity and visibility. It allows humanitarian agencies to establish who the refugees are, how many there are, and where they are located. This data is crucial for organizing a targeted response and ensuring that no one is left behind. Without accurate numbers, food rations can fall short, medical care can be misallocated, and educational resources can be out of reach for displaced children.

A Pathway to Life-Saving Assistance

Only through formal registration can refugees access vital services—shelter, clean water, healthcare, education, and legal protection. Unregistered refugees often face extreme vulnerability, unable to prove their status or seek help from formal systems. As a result, their suffering deepens, and they become easy targets for exploitation, trafficking, and abuse.

In displacement settings, the risks are compounded for women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Registration serves as a protective mechanism, ensuring that these groups are not forgotten or subjected to further harm.

A Legal Identity, A Shield Against Abuse

Beyond aid distribution, registration affirms a refugee’s right to a legal identity. In conflict zones, legal recognition can be a critical line of defense against human rights violations. It provides refugees with the tools to access justice, report abuse, and rebuild their lives with some measure of security and hope.

RSS and UNHCR Responsibility

The duty of facilitating this critical process lies with Ethiopia’s Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). These bodies must act swiftly and in coordination with local authorities, NGOs, and international partners to ensure a streamlined, transparent, and inclusive registration process.

Registration centers must be accessible, particularly to those in remote or conflict-affected areas. Outreach and mobile registration units may be necessary to reach the most vulnerable. The integrity of the process depends on both the efficiency of the systems in place and the commitment of the agencies involved.

  Call to Action

Time is of the essence. Every day that passes without registration increases the vulnerability of those who have already endured unimaginable trauma. I call on RRS and UNHCR to prioritize refugee registration for those displaced from Ulang and Nasir counties without delay.

Let us not allow these people to remain unseen, unheard, and unserved. Registration is not merely paperwork—it is a declaration of humanity, a promise of protection, and a first step toward restoring the dignity and rights of those forced to flee.