In pictures: South Sudanese seeking safety in Uganda

Matiop (wearing wristwatch) registers his family with Uganda Red Cross volunteers. — Image caption,
Thousands of refugees fleeing the violence in South Sudan have been crossing the border into Uganda. Fredieric Noy photographed the experiences of Matiop Atem Angang and his family for the UN refugee agency.

Matiop’s wife hands a sleeping mat to him on a truck, one of many shuttling 100 people at a time away from the South Sudan border. — Image caption,
Matiop Atem Angang's hometown of Bor was the first major area to fall to rebel control when South Sudan's conflict erupted on 15 December. He fled with his extended family of 15 including his 95-year-old mother, his six children and his sister’s family.

Matiop helps his young daughter onto a truck to the transit centre

Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, changed hands several times in a month-long conflict that is believed to have left thousands dead. Since a ceasefire was agreed towards the end of January both sides have accused each other of violating it. Mr Angang's family travelled for a week by boat and truck to get to Uganda.

The truck, packed with about 100 people and their luggage, is ready to leave the Elegu border crossing for the transit centre

At the border, they were taken to a UNHCR transit centre, Dzaipi, in the northern district of Adjumani. As thousands of civilians are trying to escape the violence the centre is quickly becoming overcrowded. The UN says about 860,000 people have fled their homes in South Sudan over the last two months.

The truck carrying South Sudanese refugees, including Matiop and his family, crosses a bridge before reaching Dzaipi transit centre.

The truck carrying South Sudanese refugees, including Mr Angang and his family, crosses a bridge before reaching Dzaipi transit centre. The trucks can make up to four trips a day, back and forth from the border to the transit centre.

A Ugandan police officer searches the family’s luggage at the transit centre near Adjumani.

Ugandan officials are trying to keep weapons out of the settlements and search the refugees' belongings as they arrive.

Matiop’s elderly mother, Apiou Angar, greets a friend

Mr Angang's elderly mother, Apiou Angar, encounters an old friend during the trip. Bor, a once-thriving place of 25,000 people, has been reduced to a ghost town in the fighting.

Matiop improvises a home for the evening using materials they brought with them

"This family is luckier than many who have to wait up to two weeks to move to a settlement and start rebuilding their lives in exile," the UNHCR says. Mr Angang built a shelter (right) at an evening truck stop using materials the family brought with them.

Matiop registers himself and his family with the Uganda Red Cross

The family is not used to the cold night in the makeshift shelter, but in the morning – with the help of an interpreter – Mr Angang registers his family with the Uganda Red Cross.

Matiop’s wife and his sister, led by Matiop’s son carry the sick babies to a health centre

After two nights spent in the makeshift shelter the babies fall sick. At the nearby health centre Ugandan government health workers have been working 12-hour shifts to serve the new refugees.

Matiop’s six-month-old niece, Nyalet Deng, is checked for malnutrition

Mr Angang's six-month-old niece, Nyalet Deng, is checked for malnutrition at the clinic which receives support from the Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF).

Matiop and his family collect their belongings from the side of the road at Nyumanzi I settlement.

After three days in the transit centre, the family arrives at Nyumanzi I settlement - the place where they can make a home for as long as they stay in Uganda.

Matiop and his family wait by the roadside to receive their plot of land

While Mr Angang and his family wait by the roadside to receive their plot of land, they put up a temporary shade to shield them from the hot sun.

18-year-old Nyandeng Matiop collect's the family’s monthly food ration from the World Food Programme.

Mr Angang has come down with malaria so his 18-year-old daughter Nyandeng collects the family’s monthly food ration from the World Food Programme. The whole family is anxiously awaiting the outcome of peace talks taking place between the government and rebels in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.