Juba, Brussels

The war between the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/SPLA) government and the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) that began in Juba in December and spread to the three Greater Upper Nile states (Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity) is in danger of escalation, including more atrocities and famine. As Crisis Group warned in April, conflict has broken out in Greater Bahr el Ghazal, and rising tensions threaten to drag in the relatively peaceful Equatorian states. The Security Council, in emergency session, should instruct the UN mission (UNMISS) to use its good offices to prevent further cessation of hostilities violations and violence against civilians; establish an international contact group and arms embargo; and better delineate roles between UNMISS and humanitarians on the ground. Concurrently, the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) must better link its stuttering peace process with communal dialogues inside South Sudan and reach out to excluded constituencies. The dynamics that need urgent attention include:

1 Growing tensions between the national government and the leaderships of the three Equatorian states. Fuelled by deliberate rumour-mongering, these have Juba on high alert. The Equatorians and the SPLM/A-IO insist on federalism to break the perceived “Dinka-dominated” central government’s wealth and power monopoly. Though local mediation is underway to stem escalation, worrying aspects include reported clashes (denied by both parties) between the Central Equatoria governor’s (ethnic) Mundari bodyguards and the Presidential Guard; the governor’s statements that Equtorians in the security forces have been disarmed; news of mobilisation of armed civilians within and around Juba; reported weapons shipments into the Equatorian states; a minor clash related to mobilisation of Equatorians in Maridi; and a government curfew in Juba.

2 Outbreak of conflict in Greater Bahr el Ghazal. SPLA defectors from Wau in Western Bahr el Ghazal, now operating as separate armed units, have prompted abuses by loyal SPLA on local non-Dinka believed to support these units. The latest high-profile defector, 6th Division commander General Dau Aturjong (Dinka), is recruiting in and around Northern Bahr el Ghazal to broaden the armed opposition and open new war fronts.

3 Challenges to governing coalition unity. Frustration with Juba's failure to win the war has led Uganda to reassess its relationship with the Kiir government. In light of this and other challenges, there are private conversations about the transfer of power within the leadership, particularly among the president’s home Bahr el Ghazal communities.

4 Instability in Lakes state. Many communities want to sit out the war; some have a deal with neighbouring southern Unity state Nuer. Many youth in Lakes have taken to the bush to avoid forced recruitment; some threaten to fight the unpopular governor.

5 Senior SPLA-IO defiance of the 9 May cessation of hostilities. Powerful field commanders, particularly General Peter Gadet Yak in Unity, refuse to respect the Addis agreement. IGAD mediators have little engagement with them or the allied Nuer youth "White Army". Disaffected commanders point to the government/Ugandan offensive in Ayod and President Kiir’s statement that he will not step down in a transitional government as justification for the rainy season offensive.

Three cessation of hostilities agreements have failed to halt the war, and time is of the essence to expand the current process to address existing and future challenges. The government is borrowing heavily against oil futures to fund the war, its troops are often unpaid, and thousands have deserted. Any transitional government will inherit a bankrupt state. It remains unclear who is funding and arming the opposition and how this outside support may be undermining mediation efforts.

Pursuant to UNMISS' mandate approved in May, a regional force is deploying under its command, focused on protecting civilians, cessation of hostilities monitors in key towns and oil-installation workers, but it will be overwhelmed if war continues to expand. UNMISS, which is still not acting under its protection of civilians mandate to address this, should work with the IGAD monitors to prevent further escalation of violence but step back from efforts to be a substitute for humanitarians and to negotiate their access. Both government and SPLA-IO have asked to discuss these issues with unarmed, non-political humanitarians rather than UNMISS, whose attempt to represent humanitarians has already backfired and has limited access for humanitarians in some famine-prone areas. UNMISS should assist humanitarians only on request and refocus its efforts toward its core mandated tasks, such as protection of civilians.

Peace talks have stalled; the 10 August deadline for a transitional government to be in place is increasingly unrealistic. IGAD must expand its efforts for an inclusive process in Addis by including community leaders and armed groups and launch multiple dialogues in South Sudan. The cessation of hostilities Monitoring and Verification (MVM) Teams, protected by UNMISS, should investigate the reports of violations in Greater Bahr el Ghazal and Equatorias.

Many recommendations Crisis Group made in its December 2013 Open Letter to the UN Secretary-General and its April report, A Civil War by Any Other Name, remain relevant to averting further escalation. In the face of faltering peace talks, more aggressive South Sudanese demands for political reform and fractures within the ruling coalition, the UN Security Council should hold an emergency session to do the following:

• instruct UNMISS to take decisive action, coordinated with IGAD, under its protection of civilians mandate to prevent further cessation of hostilities violations and violence against civilians, including by using of its good offices;

• institute an arms embargo for South Sudan to prevent further escalation and identify the government's and opposition’s sources of weapons;

• task regional troops to provide force protection so the MVM teams can launch investigations in the Equatorias and Greater Bahr el Ghazal;

• clarify that to prevent counter-productive conflation of UNMISS and humanitarians, UNMISS is not to represent humanitarians and is only to assist them on request and;

• establish a Contact Group that includes IGAD, the AU, UN, Troika (U.S., UK, Norway), EU, China and South Africa to facilitate coordination and discussion on the way forward.

To stop further intensification of the war, IGAD should take the following steps:

• task the MVM teams with investigating reports of cessation of hostilities violations in the Equatorias and Greater Bahr el Ghazal;

• increase its political presence on the ground in South Sudan;

• open four separate negotiation tracks, both in Addis and South Sudan, sequenced and pursued so as to contribute to the broader national political dialogue and focused on: 1) the SPLM (supported by South Africa's ANC party and Ethiopia's EPRDF party); 2) a re-activated Political Parties Forum; 3) armed groups; and 4) communal conflict;

• address the questions surrounding inclusivity in the peace process by ensuring selection of representatives is transparent, their numbers are increased, and there are clear mechanisms for civil society or community leaders not part of the official process to contribute to the dialogue in Addis and South Sudan; and

• start dialogue with all armed groups and militarised communities; failure to do so is inadvertently making spoilers of those who could be constructively engaged. Much of the dialogue and work with community representatives, armed groups and militarised communities should take place in South Sudan, not in Addis.

9 July is the third anniversary of South Sudan's independence - but the country is teetering on the brink of catastrophe as its faces its worst food crisis in 25 years, brought about by the ongoing conflict.

CAFOD’s Country Representative, Jane Andanje, said: “This is the rainy season and farmers across the country should be planting, ready to harvest in a few months time. Instead they have been forced to abandon their fields because of the fighting, and are living in squalid conditions in makeshift camps.

“Food prices have rocketed and people are no longer able to feed themselves.

“Today this crisis has left nearly four million people – a third of the country’s population – at risk of severe hunger.”

Fighting broke out between South Sudanese government forces and rival political factions in December last year, first on the streets of the capital Juba, before quickly spreading across the country. Seven months on, the conflict has forced an estimated one million people from their homes, and thousands have been killed.

Christian Modino, who leads our humanitarian response team in Africa, said: “It is now urgent that large-scale humanitarian assistance is allowed to take place – allowing aid to be pre-positioned and delivered to those affected. We need to ensure that already beleaguered communities have access to live-saving food and water, sanitation, healthcare, shelter and essential items.

“The humanitarian community needs all the support it can get to reduce needless suffering.”

We are scaling up our humanitarian response with our local Church partners – Caritas Malakal and Caritas South Sudan in Upper Nile State – as well as working with Don Bosco in Juba, who are coping with the arrival of more than 1,600 people into its church compound.

Last month the South Sudanese government and rival political factions agreed to end the fighting and form a transitional government. CAFOD cautiously welcomes this latest agreement. Previous deals to end the violence have been broken by both sides, which has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis.

CAFOD’s Jane Andanje said: “The international community and all parties to the conflict must redouble their efforts towards the next steps in securing a sustainable, negotiated, peaceful solution to the conflict.

“Now is not the time for the world to walk away from South Sudan. The people more than ever deserve our concerted attention and efforts; inaction is not an option.”

Please donate to our South Sudan appeal>>

Situation Update

The Ministry of Health officially declared an outbreak of cholera in Juba, the capital of South Sudan on 15 May 2014.

Since then, over 2,600 cases of cholera have been reported in Bor South, Juba, Kajo-Keji, Lafon,
Magwi, Manyo, Mundri East, Torit and Yei counties in four States.

The cholera outbreak is on the decline in Juba County though Torit has now emerged as the new cholera hotspot in Eastern Equatoria state. In response to the high case fatality rate of 3.6% in Torit, response efforts coordinated by the state taskforce with support from the National Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and partners have been enhanced to allow timely case detection and referral to the designated cholera treatment centre.

July 7, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudanese authorities have ordered security forces to shoot dead anyone found to be violating a renewed night curfew imposed by the government as tension continues to rise over federalism debate in the country.

Interior minister Aleu Ayieny Aleu on Monday ordered his security operatives to go on a “shoot-to-kill” mission against night-time curfew violators, which the government has resolved to impose daily from 8pm to 6am.

“Please work with me and I will work with you to implement this resolution of the council [of minister]. The shoot-to-kill order was passed by the council. It is not an individual order,” he told the security forces.

Aleu said the resolution was agreed upon by the council of ministers last month.

President Salva Kiir last year issued an order imposing dusk to dawn curfew time in Juba when fighting broke out in December. It runs from 11pm to 6am, but it appears the authorities have now moved it back to 8pm from 1pm.

Citizens are thus demanded to remain indoors after dusk.

“It is only witches who move at night. They steal and kill our people … shoot them. We have to strike hard to stop this problem, so now, even civilians cannot move about at night,” the minister further ordered.

Observers say the renewed harsh order to kill is a direct response to the growing tensions over the debate about federalism, which the government sees as a threat to dismantle power from the centre.

“They [government] see the rising debate in favour of federalism in the country as a threat to the centred power by the clique. They confiscate newspapers that publish the debate. Now they attempt to silence after-work debates in evening social gatherings in town,” an insider told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

In the Western Equatoria town of Maridi at least three people were killed last week by security forces after they were overheard in a bar discussing federalism.

Last month, president Kiir cautioned lawmakers against falling into the trap of federalism, saying the issue was designed by rebel leader, Riek Machar allegedly to dismantle or split what he described as the “internal front”.

He said the issue of federalism should be handled through a referendum by the people, warning it should not be imposed on the people by the rebels.

In reaction, the rebels said a decision on how to adopt or implement federalism would only be made during peace talks.

“An agreement on how to adopt or implement federalism would be reached in the negotiations by the two warring parties. Whether or not it is going to be confirmed in a referendum will have to be negotiated,” said James Gatdet Dak, spokesman for rebel leader Riek Machar.

Dak, however, said citizens should not be prevented from discussing it individually or in public gatherings.

“This should not become a taboo. Individuals and civil society groups should not be barred from discussing federalism anywhere in the country and abroad,” he said, adding that the leadership of the opposition was encouraging such debates and had been consulting with representatives of civil society organisations and individuals to seek their views on the future system of governance in the country.

The armed opposition group has tabled federalism in IGAD-mediated peace talks as the future system of governance to be adopted in resolving the six-month old political crisis in the country, arguing the system has been demanded by the people since 1947 and will help promote cultural diversity i the country have and devolve powers to the states.

UNIVERSITY OPENS FEDERALISM DEBATE

However, despite growing threats by the government against the debate over the federal system of governance, the University of Juba provided a rare chance for public debate on the matter.

A debate organised on federalism by the university drew several renowned scholars from within the country and abroad in a forum moderated by former presidential affairs minister Luka Biong Deng on Saturday.

Government officials, diplomats, civil society groups, political parties and students attended the occasion.

A leading scholar and historian on South Sudanese affairs, Douglas Johnson said it was incorrect by some to fear federalism by wrongly equating it to Kokora, a particularism move by Equatorians in 1980s.

During his lecture, Douglas said Kokora should not be considered as a system of government.

“Let us be clear, Kokora is not the same as federalism. Federalism is a government system that splits powers between a central authority and state governments,” he explained.

The veteran historian who wrote many books on South Sudan said he observed that the federalism debate has been complicated by the ongoing crisis in the country, saying “one side (the armed opposition) has adopted federalism as a political platform while the other side (the government) views it as a version of disloyalty”.

STUDENTS IN FAVOUR OF FEDERALISM

Meanwhile, a poll taken on 15 December 2013, a day which coincided with the birth of the current crisis, indicated that 67% of the students at the University of Juba were in favour of a federal system of governance.

The poll which was revealed on Saturday was conducted on the basis of the three former regional entities.

Juba university students from the Greater Equatoria region voted 87.8% in favour of federalism, while 40% of Greater Upper Nile students and 18.2% of students from Greater Bahr el Ghazal region supported the system.

In reaction, a former minister and member of the former detainees, Majak D’Agoot, said the findings were obvious, adding that the situation had changed over the past six months which would have impacted new choices for individual students in favour or against federalism.

“In my view, these are good findings even though they are obvious facts that we all know and actually are incongruent to this particular study,” Agoot said.

He however said the debate should not be confined to authorities, adding this should be open to the wider public.

“Whilst we recognise the efforts exerted by the author to enrich the conversation, debate about federalism should not be stifled by the authorities and all patriotic South Sudanese should work hard to de-ethnicise it and organise it within the confines of a nation-building agenda in order to help in attaining a national consensus and dispel Kokora-phobia and its attendant reminiscences from its gist and substance,” he wrote.

(ST)

“Sudán del Sur necesitará ayuda externa al menos hasta septiembre de 2015”

• El conflicto ha impedido que los campesinos puedan recoger sus cosechas y se ha perdido también la nueva siembra, por lo que habrá que esperar a la cosecha de 2015 para que la población pueda ser autosuficiente

• Unos 910.000 niños de entre 6 y 59 meses sufrirán desnutrición aguda este año si no se hace nada para impedirlo

• Acción contra el Hambre ha lanzado esta mañana la voz de alerta en un encuentro informativo con medios de comunicación en la víspera del tercer aniversario de la independencia del país

Madrid, 8 de julio de 2014

“Los gritos de una madre cuando acaba de perder a su hijo, la desesperación con la que se arrastra por el suelo, sin encontrar consuelo en los familiares que intentan ayudarla a levantarse, es una escena que se repite una media de 3 veces al día en el Centro de Estabilización del campamento de Bentiu”, así describía esta mañana Carla Fibla, responsable de comunicación de Acción contra el Hambre en Sudán del Sur, la vida diaria ene ste campamento en el norte del país donde hoy viven 46.000 personas.

Carla, que acaba de regresar del país, ha contado también que “el rápido crecimiento del campamento ha provocado que sus ocupantes apenas tengan unas pocas letrinas y la mayor parte de los niños hayan dejado de ir a las escuelas, para ayudar a sus madres a recoger troncos y ramas de bambú que luego venden en el mercado; o para acompañar a sus hermanas a recoger agua del pozo. La media de tiempo en el que hacen la cola es de 5 a 6 horas. Los días de lluvia sólo se puede transitar por el campamento con botas altas de agua, y las tiendas quedan completamente inundadas porque no tienen suficientes plásticos. Los niños pasan las horas modelando barro, hasta expresar sus recuerdos más cercanos, como el Ejército y la batalla con la que jugaban Taban y William.

“Podría ser la peor crisis de los últimos años”

“La situación nutricional en el país puede desembocar muy pronto en una de las peores crisis nutricionales del país de los últimos años si nos movilizamos para impedirlo. Las estimaciones apuntas a que más de 900.000 niños podrían padecer desnutrición aguda y 50.000 podrían perder la vida. Hasta el momento se han comprometido solo el 42% de los fondos del llamamiento realizado por las Naciones Unidas, que pedían a la comunidad internacional 1.300 millones de euros para responder a la crisis”, ha apuntado el Director Técnico de Acción contra el Hambre, Amador Gómez.

El Equipo de Emergencia de Nutrición de Acción contra el Hambre está trabajando contra el reloj, y contra enormes retos logísticos, para poner en marcha un centro de estabilización nutricional en este campamento.

Peligroso avance del cólera fuera de la capital

La hipótesis más temida por el grupo de organizaciones internacionales que trabajamos en Juba desde hace seis semanas contra el brote de cólera, se ha cumplido. Desde el inicio del brote, a mediados de mayo se han reportado más de 2.400 casos y cerca de 60 muertes.

Tres años separan la euforia del desengaño

Este es el escenario en el que el país, con un 98% del presupuesto nacional basado en el petróleo, conmemora su tercer año de independencia. Tres años en los que se ha pasado de la euforia y el ímpetu a la frustración y el desengaño. Un panorama con un futuro incierto, en el que lo único que se puede prever con claridad es que la población va a necesitar mucha ayuda internacional para que la pérdida de vidas sea la menor posible.

Acción contra el Hambre trabaja en el país desde hace 20 años y con un equipo en la actualidad de más de 200 personas, con programas de tratamiento y prevención de la desnutrición, seguridad alimentaria y medios de vida y agua saneamiento e higiene. En lo que va de año hemos conseguido recuperar a más de 9.000 niños desnutridos.

Más información y entrevistas con portavoces: Acción contra el Hambre España
Alicia García – Carlos Riaza: 91 771 16 63 - 609 018 735 / 608 78 83 20

Para colaborar: 900 100 822 BANCO SANTANDER: ES32 0049 0001 59 2810090000 BANKIA: ES73 2038 1052 44 6000741510 CAIXA: ES86 2100 2999 93 0200030018

www.accioncontraelhambre.org

Pakistan: Water, sanitation, and health services are urgent needs among the 780,000 registered displaced from North Waziristan (government figures). The data is being cleaned to check for duplication.

Iraq: Access to areas within the governorates of Anbar, Babylon, Diyala, Salah al Din, Kirkuk, and Ninevah remains difficult due to ongoing violence clashes, disruption of communication and transportation routes, and a widespread shortage of fuel.

Syria: Islamic State has reportedly expelled 60,000 people from the homes in Deir-ez-Zor. In Dar’a and Rural Damascus, barrel bomb attacks were reported. Some 200,000 Syrians are estimated to have died from chronic illnesses since the start of the conflict due to lack of access to treatment and medicines. Water and sanitation systems are deteriorating significantly.

Updated: 08/07/2014 Next Update: 15/07/2014

Global Emergency Overview Web Interface

• Both sides to the conflict committing war crimes and crimes against humanity

• More than 1 million internally displaced and 400,000 forced to flee the country

• 3.9 million people face an alarming risk of food insecurity as fears of famine loom

• Arms flow into South Sudan as conflict continues

New evidence is emerging of ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both government and opposition forces in South Sudan, Amnesty International said as the country marks its third Independence Day on 9 July. On a mission to Juba this month, the organization interviewed internally displaced people who described recent atrocities and an imminent humanitarian crisis.

Since the conflict began in December 2013, more than 1 million people have been displaced, with 400,000 fleeing to neighbouring countries. Around the country 3.9 million people face an alarming risk of food insecurity, as fears of an impending famine loom. More than 100,000 people are in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps at UN bases – some have been trapped in these compounds for months, afraid they will be attacked if they leave.

One local human rights defender told Amnesty International: “What is there to celebrate when I don’t feel free?”

“Both sides in the conflict have demonstrated a near-total disregard for the laws of war, with civilians left paying the price,” said Michelle Kagari, Deputy Regional Director for Eastern Africa at Amnesty International.

“All sides must immediately cease attacks on civilians. All states must suspend international arms transfers to South Sudan, until there are guarantees they will not be used to commit or facilitate serious abuses.”

Even before the current conflict erupted, South Sudan was already awash with small arms, a legacy of decades of civil war. The wide availability of arms has fueled violent crime and intercommunal conflict, with a significant human toll. The government has made numerous attempts at civilian disarmament – these have been ineffective in improving security and have often been marred by violence themselves.

Since the internal armed conflict erupted in December, yet more arms have reportedly flowed into the country.

South Sudanese government forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and opposition forces under Dr Riek Machar have spectacularly failed to make good on promises to cease attacks on civilians, sexual violence, destruction of property and violence against children, and to facilitate humanitarian access and hold perpetrators accountable.

A ceasefire – initially agreed on 23 January and renewed twice, on 5 and 9 May, has not been honoured by either side. Clashes continue in Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile states.

“The international community must pressure the South Sudanese authorities to bring to justice all those who have committed serious violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law during the conflict, or sadly there will be more Independence Days with little to celebrate,” said Michelle Kagari.

The South Sudanese authorities have so far made no concrete effort to deliver justice for the crimes against civilians committed during the conflict. The government has demonstrated a lack of commitment to conducting prompt, independent and thorough investigations with a view towards prosecuting perpetrators of abuses and violations.

Background

Though triggered by a political dispute, South Sudan’s internal armed conflict has taken on a markedly ethnic dimension, with mainly Dinka members of government forces loyal to President Kiir, and mainly Nuer army defectors and their allied militias loyal to ex-Vice-President Machar. Both sides have been systematically targeting members of the other’s ethnic community. An Amnesty International report, Nowhere Safe: Civilians Under Attack in South Sudan, based on field research undertaken in March 2014, documented cases in which Dinka, Nuer and Shilluk civilians have been targeted on the basis of their ethnicity and assumed political affiliations.

Crimes against humanity and war crimes have happened against a backdrop of pervasive human rights violations.

A clampdown on freedom of expression has added to the repressive and fearful climate. Members of civil society and journalists have been summoned and questioned by National Security Service officers about their activities and articles. In March, the Arabic language paper Almajhar Alsayasy was ordered to shut down because of articles critical of the government. Last week, National Security Service officers gave verbal orders to media outlets not to publish articles about federalism – a topic of wide public debate. On 2 July, National Security Service officers seized copies of the Juba Monitor, a daily paper. On 7 July, armed National Security Service officers confiscated 3,000 copies of The Citizen.

On South Sudan’s first Independence Day President Kiir pledged that South Sudan would quickly accede to international conventions and abide by international law.

After three years of independence, South Sudan has failed to complete the ratification process of core human rights treaties. The African Charter for Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights were approved by parliament and have been awaiting presidential assent since before the conflict erupted. South Sudan is the only member state of the African Union that has not ratified the African Charter.

For more information contact: Stefan Simanowitz + 44 (0) 20 7413 5729 or 07778 472126 press@amnesty.org

General Overview

• Reporting completeness and timeliness decreased from 63% to 61% and 61% to 42% respectively during week 26 when compared to week 25.
• Measles cases continue to be reported in Bentiu highlighting the need to strengthen vaccinations on arrival and routine immunization at all clinics.
• The under five-mortality rate in Bentiu remains above the emergency threshold with most deaths being attributed to severe acute malnutrition, measles, and severe pneumonia.
• The number of suspect cholera cases in Bentiu has increased to 12 with 11 being positive on rapid diagnostic testing. None of the samples has tested positive for cholerae on culture.
• Hepatitis E is on the increase in Mingkaman with a total of 53 cases and 4 deaths [case fatality of 7.5%]. The majority (75%) of the deaths have occurred in pregnant women.
• Malaria, Acute respiratory infection, and acute watery diarrhea continue to account for the highest disease risk in the IDP camps in week 26.

Dear all,

This is my last day as Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to South Sudan. I have today completed 3 years as SRSG, and have come to the end of my period.

UNMISS has also received a totally different mandate from the Security Council than the one I was appointed to implement. With the new mandate, it is natural that I pass the torch to a new head of mission.

And it is only when you have weathered the storm, and you are in somewhat calmer waters, that a captain can dock and hand over to someone else. That is the case with me now.

This would have been a fantastic opportunity to talk about the achievements of the past three years, and not least our efforts during the past 7 months, saving thousands of lives and stemming the killings, a cycle of violence that we know could have had untold consequences. This is a major achievement. But I will not do that.

Rather, I will use this opportunity to do something more important: to give a few messages to the people of South Sudan and to the leaders of this country and the ruling party, the SPLM. I will talk about the need to save South Sudan from fighting. And more importantly, to save South Sudan from failing.

To the people of South Sudan I want to say:

You didn’t deserve this crisis. The losses it has brought upon you on all fronts is heartbreaking. You have suffered through decades of civil war. When the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed, you thought peace was within reach. When the referendum and independence came, you were sure the war was over. Finally, at last, the suffering and the nightmares had come to an end.

And then, after two and a half years of independence, what started as a political crisis, took a violent turn, and resulted in a cycle of ethnic killings. Never before had you, or any of us, seen such killings and atrocities happen here, committed by South Sudanese against South Sudanese. Never before had we seen the cities of Bor, Malakal and Bentiu virtually destroyed by fighting, and for the latter two – changing hands 12 times. Thousands and thousands have been killed.

Never before have we seen you, South Sudanese citizens, be displaced with such speed and on such a scale in just a few days and weeks. Now, 1,5 million of you have fled your homes. Hundreds of thousands of these are refugees, in Kakuma and across the Ethiopian border, and even more shocking, in Sudan. Citizens of newly independent South Sudan fleeing for safety to Khartoum. Who would have ever thought this be possible – after independence?

And now, we are at risk of seeing the worst famine in the country’s history. And it is not because the rains did not come. It is because of a manmade disaster. It is because of a manmade conflict. And if it comes, it will be a manmade famine.

And those who suffer the most now are you – the people, the women and children, the vulnerable; those on the move, in fear and despair; those of you who lost everything, those who lost their loved ones, those separated from their parents, those wading in mud in UNMISS bases, the millions who are hungry, and all those who are angry - feeling betrayed by your leaders.

But the responsibility does not rest with one leader or with one tribe or community. The whole leadership of the SPLM, whether in Government, in the bush, in Addis or Nairobi, they all have a collective responsibility for what happened and for what you are going through. They and only they can stop this senseless conflict and the violence against innocent civilians.

So let me now move to the leadership of the SPLM and SPLM in Opposition, to the leadership team and to all members of the party’s Political Bureau.

I have known almost all of you for a very long time. From friends we hear the truth, we hear good things and bad things. But we usually get honest advice. As I now leave the country, I want to give you mine: To the leadership of the SPLM, whichever faction you belong to: You are all responsible for this crisis, collectively. What happened on December 15 and onwards could have been prevented. What preceded the crisis was very risky, and – as some of us warned that it could lead to ethnic violence.

But none of us predicted the explosion of violence, the ‘hurricane’ – the scale, the scope and the speed of killings. None of us predicted it would be that devastating. And all of this because of a crisis of leadership within the ruling party, the SPLM.

After decades of sacrifice and suffering you got your freedom, you got self-determination and independence. And then you turn on each other, and wasted all the goodwill and opportunities you enjoyed.

My friends, my brothers, my sisters, why did you do it and why do you continue now? The ongoing conflict can be stopped by you - right at this moment.

The country has now been set back decades. The terrible destruction of towns and property is one thing, but the divisions and wounds are deeper than ever. The gulf between communities is abysmal, and the animosity is worse than we have ever seen at any point in South Sudanese history. The social fabric is being torn apart. The nation building project which was extremely hard from the very beginning, will now be more difficult than ever. It has been set back decades.

For us who have shared the struggle of the South Sudanese for peace and justice for all, this is very painful to witness.

As the people of South Sudan prepare to celebrate the third anniversary of their nation’s independence tomorrow, they see a country that is now at grave risk, not only of fighting, but also of failing. The leadership, across all factions of the SPLM, whether they are inside or out of government, released from detention or in the bush, are responsible for this. The achievement of decades of struggle can be lost.

Even if the fighting is stopped, it is the terms of the peace agreement that will decide whether South Sudan in fact will be saved, or whether it will slide down the slippery slope and fail. Because the problems did not start on December 15. South Sudan has been afflicted by three diseases since 2005: (i) the cancer of corruption – with the oil becoming a curse rather than a blessing, (ii) rule by the gun and not by the law, with impunity among security forces and services, and (iii) rule by a self-serving elite, - for the elite, and much less for the people.

And these diseases have been contagious throughout the interim period and after independence. These diseases have not only affected the population negatively, they also have the capacity to make South Sudan so sick that the country can fail. Corruption, for one, is like cancer. It spreads quickly and can reach every cell in the body. And then it becomes extremely difficult to stop.

All three diseases have to be contained if South Sudan is to be saved; if South Sudan is to be the country the freedom fighters dreamt of and fought for; if South Sudan is to be the country for the people – the many, and not only the few. This is also necessary to avoid South Sudan from becoming a failed state. These crippling diseases must be cured.

The IGAD peace talks should therefore not only be about finding ways to stop the fighting. This is about more fundamental issues. South Sudan as a country is at stake. That is also why South Sudanese from all walks of life should have a say in the peace process.

The peace negotiations should not be about finding band aid-solutions that allow things to continue in the same way, with only minor changes. It is most tempting, of course, because the cost is less politically and implies less sacrifice. It is less painful in the short term. But it is more costly and it will cause more pain in the long run. Why? Because band-aid solutions don’t cure any diseases; sometimes they make things worse, much worse.

As a friend of all South Sudanese, my message is this: South Sudan today needs much more than band aid solutions. South Sudan needs a cure for the diseases of the past. South Sudan needs fundamental reforms and a complete overhaul of key state institutions. This can only happen through real leadership and changes in critical areas, in security sector reform, in financial management and anti-corruption. South Sudan needs transparency, and reforms in the justice sector. And not least, South Sudan needs accountability and an end to impunity for the atrocities and violations committed during this crisis.

Crises also come with opportunity. For South Sudan, this crisis is an opportunity to cure the country and its system from the contagion of the past, to right the wrongs and to set things straight. From this crisis, South Sudan can make a fresh start.

In my various conversations with Government and armed opposition leaders, they all agree that the country desperately needs reform and that very serious changes have to take place. They should now make it happen, and turn their words into deeds.

By August 10, the parties have promised to agree on the formation of a transitional government of national unity. I hope they will agree to put a team in charge that can deliver on such a reform agenda. This is not up to IGAD, this is up to the SPLM leadership - on all sides of this conflict. This means stopping the blame game, the finger pointing. And it means putting the country and its people first, and not any personal interest.

If the country and the people are the priority, it is not that difficult to find solutions. If there are further delays, and the blame games go on, whether from those wanting to remain in office or those wanting to get back in, we can draw only one conclusion; that this is only about a scramble for power. There will be claims that there are different reasons. We will hear other explanations, but – please - don’t believe them. If they do not come to an agreement, it is because this - in the end - is only about them, and not about you, the people of South Sudan, or the country.

The SPLM-leadership, whether they are in office, in Addis or Nairobi, or in the bush, are now facing their greatest test ever. The test of solving this crisis, of saving their country. And it will come to the crunch in the next few weeks.

The SPLM is at risk of failing. Of failing the people; failing the country and failing the struggle. The most important thing now, is that South Sudan is saved. Not only saved from fighting, but also saved from failing. In the end, this is also the test of honouring the sacrifice of the freedom fighters – who died for the birth of this country. And it is when things are seen with their eyes that one will get the best guidance on what to do.

As I leave South Sudan, I want everyone to understand that irrespective of its leadership, the United Nations and UNMISS are here to stay and will continue to support the people of South Sudan. And as I depart from this terminal, I want to tell all South Sudanese that you will always remain in my heart. I will continue to mobilize support for the suffering people of South Sudan, and to be a strong advocate of your case.

As a saying goes, if you have been drinking the waters of the Nile, you will always return. I hope to return to South Sudan in a while.

And I hope to meet a leadership that has passed their greatest test, a leadership that has not failed its people.

I hope to meet a South Sudan that is at peace with itself and its neighbours. I hope to meet a South Sudan that has managed to win the battle over the three diseases, corruption, rule of the gun and rule for the elite. And I hope to meet a healthy and thriving country. I hope to see a country that is building bridges, and overcoming differences. I hope that the slogan I saw on a T-shirt in the streets in Juba, will be everyone’s commitment: ‘South Sudan is my tribe.’ I hope to meet a nation that is honouring the sacrifice of the freedom fighters. I hope to meet a South Sudan that will make all of you, and all of us proud. Let me end by quoting Nelson Mandela:’

“I am fundamentally an optimist…. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair….” To all South Sudanese, and to all of us who care about this country, we will not give ourselves up to despair. Let us all keep our heads pointed toward the sun, and our feet moving forward. You will get there, in the end.

Thank you, good bye and good luck.

The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan shows no sign of abating. The rainy season is in progress, and logistics and sanitation challenges have increased. Cholera cases and warnings are on the rise. Since the crisis began six months ago, close to 1.5 million people have fled their homes, and sporadic conflict continued. The Crisis Response Plan for 2014 calls for US $1.8 billion to assist 3.8 million people by the end of this year.

As South Sudan prepares to mark the third anniversary of its independence tomorrow (Wednesday, July 9th), GOAL CEO, Barry Andrews has warned the international community that thousands of lives remain at risk there from conflict and famine.

The caution comes as GOAL announces funding of almost $1 million that will see it significantly scale-up its emergency response programme for people who have been affected by fighting which began in December.

GOAL will use the money to provide primary healthcare services to tens of thousands of displaced families in Maiwut County, a region in Upper Nile State close to the border with Ethiopia. Upper Nile State has been the scene of some of the worst fighting of the conflict, which, in turn, has caused a mass displacement of civilians both inside the country and to neighbouring countries, such as Sudan and Ethiopia.

Tens of thousands of people have already fled to Maiwut, with many of these crossing the border into the Gambella region of Ethiopia, where GOAL is running a programme for more than 70,000 South Sudanese refugees at two separate camps.

“GOAL now operates health programmes and clinics for affected families right across this region,” explained Barry Andrews. “At every stage of their journey, from Unity State in the north of South Sudan, across Upper Nile State and right into the camps in Ethiopia in the east, the GOAL teams are providing essential, life-saving services.”

Mr Andrews has issued a stern warning to the international community that it must not lose sight of the crisis in South Sudan, where a major famine has been predicted for later in the year.

“I was in South Sudan on Independence Day last year. At that time, there was a feeling of real hope; now tens of thousands of people have been killed by conflict, hundreds of thousands have been displaced and the spectre of famine hangs over the country.

“GOAL is responding where and however we can, but Independence Day this year serves as a timely reminder for the international community that this crisis has not gone away. More than $1 billion is still required if we are to meet the needs of almost four million people who are desperately in need in South Sudan.”

For more information on GOAL’s work in South Sudan, or to donate, please visit www.goal.ie

For further comment, please contact GOAL CEO, Barry Andrews on 00 353 (0)86 836 1396.

• GOAL has been awarded funding of $930,000 from IMA World Health. As part of this, they will re-open 10 health clinics in Maiwut County in Upper Nile State.

• Apart from providing primary healthcare services, GOAL will help to provide maternal and child health care, and treat some of the most common diseases in South Sudan, including malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea and ARIs (acute respiratory infections). They will also seek to run a number of nutrition programmes in tandem with the health services.

• GOAL is currently caring for more than half a million people in South Sudan across several different locations.

David Williams GOAL Media & PR Officer

DD: 00 353 (0)1 905 9913
Mob: 00 353 (0)87 419 7140
GOAL switch: 00 353 (0)1 280 9779
Email: dwilliams@goal.ie
Skype: david.williams761

GOAL is an international humanitarian organization

GOAL
PO Box 19,
Dun Laoghaire,
Co. Dublin
Ireland
www.goal.ie

JUBA– UNICEF and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) are stepping up joint missions to reach desperate people in remote areas of South Sudan where the number of children at risk of death from malnutrition-related causes has increased dramatically and a hunger catastrophe is looming.

Across the country, an integrated Rapid Response Mechanism is in place so that teams of emergency workers and supplies can fly into remote areas to provide urgent humanitarian aid to people who have had little or no access to humanitarian assistance. The situation is most dire in the three conflict-affected states of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile where data indicates as much as 60 to 75 percent of the population is severely food-insecure.

An estimated 235,000 children under the age of 5 will require treatment for severe acute malnutrition this year; twice as many as last year. Furthermore, some 675,000 children will require treatment for moderate severe acute malnutrition. So far, due to the challenging conditions, the humanitarian community has only been able to reach about 10 per cent of these children with the required treatment.

“Many people driven from their homes have to walk for days with nothing to eat before they reach towns like the state capital of Bentiu in the hope of finding assistance. Some of them, particularly children, arrive so badly malnourished there is nothing that can be done to save them,” said Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF Representative in South Sudan. “We must reach the remote populations with essential supplies and services to spare them that perilous journey. The Rapid Response Mechanism gives us the flexibility to focus on the people, especially the children, who need our assistance most.”

Teams deployed to remote locations register people and supply life-saving food assistance, usually via air-drops and airlifts. The teams treat children suffering from malnutrition, provide water, sanitation and hygiene supplies and services, identify children who have become separated from their families and provide basic education services where possible. Furthermore, specialty nutrition supplements are provided to children under 5 who are not yet malnourished, in order to prevent them from becoming so. To date, there have been joint missions to 15 locations, reaching more than 200,000 people, including 70,000 children under 5. In addition WFP teams have reached a further 14 locations, helping approximately 350,000 more people. Once access to these locations is open, partners are often able to provide ongoing assistance.

“Experienced humanitarian staff returning from deep field locations report conditions worse than they have ever seen,” said Joyce Luma, WFP Country Director in South Sudan. “The work of these teams is critical if we are to avert a hunger catastrophe. We urgently need funds and partners to be able to expand coverage and establish a fixed presence in remote areas to support food and nutrition activities if we are to have any chance of avoiding an impending disaster.”

WFP initiated the innovative Rapid Response Mechanism missions in January, with UNICEF and other agencies joining in March to help increase capacity and provide a more complete package of assistance. Teams are currently operating around Koch and Nihaldu in Unity State reaching 58,700 people who have not previously had access to any form of assistance.

The appalling condition of people on arrival in Bentiu triggered joint assessment missions to find the areas from where they originated. Initial reports from the teams indicate extremely high levels of malnutrition among children under 5. Further immediate missions are planned for other targeted areas in Unity State. And then over the coming months UNICEF, WFP and partners will undertake additional missions to cover 30 hard-to-reach sites every month in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile.

The conflict in South Sudan has displaced some 1.5 million people from their homes. Over 1.1 million – more than half of them children – are living in makeshift shelters within South Sudan with limited or no access to humanitarian assistance. Four million people are facing emergency levels of food insecurity and UNICEF warns that 50,000 children under 5 are likely to die this year unless they can be reached with treatment for severe acute malnutrition. This crisis has also severely impacted humanitarian access as well as health and water and sanitation services.

For additional information, please contact:

Mercy Kolok, Communications Officer, UNICEF South Sudan, Tel: +211 (0)955 639 658 Email: mkolok@unicef.org

James Elder, UNICEF Regional Chief of Communication, Eastern & Southern Africa; Mobile: +254 71558 1222; Email: jelder@unicef.org twitter @1james_elder

Challiss McDonough, Senior Regional Spokeswoman, World Food Programme (WFP), Nairobi Tel: +254-707-722-104, Email: challiss.mcdonough@wfp.org

Jackie Dent, Public Information Officer, WFP South Sudan Tel: + 211 (0) 922465247 Email: Jacqueline.dent@wfp.org

A group of seven major international aid agencies said they face a shortfall of $89m/£52m just when the South Sudan humanitarian crisis edges closer to the risk of famine. Speaking out on the 3rd anniversary of the country’s independence they warned their aid efforts to help hundreds of thousands of people caught up in the conflict was under threat due to a lack of funds.

South Sudan is the most pressing humanitarian crisis in Africa. Violence, hunger and sickness blight the lives of people who three years ago were hopeful of an independent future and end to war. Some 1.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to fighting including nearly 400,000 people who are refugees in neighbouring countries. Many have crossed the border weak and malnourished. Nearly 4 million people in South Sudan are facing crisis or emergency levels of hunger. In the UN camp in Bentiu child deaths are well above emergency threshold.

World Vision, which estimates that 250,000 children are at risk of severe malnutrition, faces the largest single funding gap of $33/£19m million. Oxfam which has helped over 260,000 people since the crisis began has only managed to raise half of the $30.35m/£17.8m it needs. Save the Children has helped nearly 162,000 and has plans to help over 500,000 but needs an extra $19.5m/£11.42m. Care International is currently assisting over 150,000 people and is short of more than $9m/£5.25m to continue and expand life-saving work.

Expanding International Rescue Committee’s work in South Sudan and refugees in Ethiopia and Uganda is under threat due to a shortfall of $3.3m/£1.9m. Christian Aid, which has so far supported over 100,000 people, needs an additional $7m/£4m and Tearfund faces a $2.4m/£1.4m and if it had more funds it would expand its current work.

The risk of famine is rising as the number of people requiring help is steadily rising, but the money to enable agencies to do something about this is not coming through. The funding crisis is not affecting the agencies alone. The UN’s $1.8bn/£1.06bn appeal is so far less than half funded.

The agencies said that there is a desperate need for peace in South Sudan so that people can go home, go back to school, plant crops and patch their lives back together. International pressure is needed on all parties to the conflict to end the violence and to build a nation for all South Sudanese people. However, without more funding now, that future is slipping further away and may not exist for many.

Mark Goldring Oxfam’s Chief Executive said: “We will be staring into the abyss and fail to avert a famine if funds do not start arriving soon. This is a not a crisis caused by drought or flood. It is a political crisis turned violent. The people of South Sudan can only put their lives back together once the fighting ends. In the meantime civilians caught up in this crisis not of their making need our help. We are asking the public to help us with our urgent humanitarian work, but mainly we are calling on governments to fund the aid effort before it is too late.”

Families’ food stocks are low due to sharing with those displaced and in some case food stocks have been looted during the course of the conflict. Food markets are not functioning and with trade routes hindered this is likely to further exacerbate the crisis. Destruction, looting and occupation of health facilities have impeded health services and many facilities lack essential supplies.

The aid effort is hampered not only by a lack of funds but also insecurity and poor roads and in some areas airdrops are the only way aid can get to people.

Aimee Ansari, Care International’s Country Director in South Sudan: “On the day I left Bentiu, CARE transported the bodies of three children who had died from malnutrition to a burial site. It was a brutal demonstration of the impact both of the insecurity and the lack of funding.”

Tearfund reports the number of malnourished children and mothers needing food from its six feeding centres in remote communities in Jonglei, one of the country’s worst affected states, has more than quadrupled compared to this time last year. New admissions have doubled every month since March this year, a trend which is expected to rise in the coming months.

Kathleen Rutledge, Tearfund’s Country Director in South Sudan said: “We are seeing unprecedented numbers of malnourished children and mothers in need of urgent help. Many are extremely weak, having walked for days to flee the fighting with no food or means to support their families.”

Perry Mansfield, director of World Vision’s programs in South Sudan said: "We estimate that a quarter of a million children in South Sudan are at risk of severe malnutrition. Every delay in securing funds means higher risk of famine, higher risk of children being used as child soldiers, and a higher ultimate price tag to deal with this disaster. World Vision urgently needs to increase the tempo and scale of our response to the looming food crisis – a response that is becoming even more difficult as the rainy season leaves us fewer options to get food to those in need. "

Christian Aid has supported over 100,000 people so far and without additional funding it cannot provide the needed humanitarian assistance for over 150,000 people. With the anticipated famine and the increased primary and secondary displacements, this figure may rise further if the conflict persists in the coming months.

Women are particularly affected by the food crisis and bear a heavy and dangerous burden.

Wendy Taeuber, IRC Country Director in South Sudan said: “As food becomes more scarce, women are forced to take greater risks to try to feed their families. At times, this includes walking long distances to search for anything for their families to eat, to fetch firewood to use or to sell, and to look for water. Worsening food insecurity is placing women and girls at serious risks of sexual violence, exploitation and abuse.”

Save the Children said that in any conflict, children suffer most. In South Sudan, they have been the victims of terrible violence that has erupted around them and engulfed their communities. Hundreds of thousands have been made homeless. Many have seen friends, parents and family members attacked or killed. Thousands have been separated from their families and 2 million children will be facing a hunger crisis by the end of August. The current need is overwhelming, and our ability to respond to specific protection needs of children in particular has been hampered by the lack of funding.

Pete Walsh, Save the Children’s Country Director in South Sudan, said: “Save the Children’s feeding clinics are dealing with an influx of severely malnourished children. We urgently need to further funds to provide families with life-saving food supplements. South Sudan is a newly formed country and its first generation of children are eating potentially noxious berries just to survive another day. They need help and if we wait any longer, I fear all hope will be lost.”

Ends

For further information contact: Ian Bray 01865 472289 07721 461 339

Live TV links with spokespeople in South Sudan Footage available to download

http://wordsandpictures.oxfam.org.uk/?c=16369&k=eac257bf28

Photographs available to download

http://wordsandpictures.oxfam.org.uk/?c=16376&k=cc0f4807a5