October 26, 2014 (JUBA) – Participants taking part in a 28-day reconciliation workshop in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria state have expressed optimism that the country’s wounds can be healed.

South Sudan’s Committee for National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation (CNHPR) is hosting the intensive training, which concludes on 28 October, for community leaders and faith-based practitioners in Yei.

“I personally came here loaded with anxieties and fears as to how I would keep the Dinkas and Nuers, and other tribes, together for four weeks without anything exploding,” participant Rev. Bernard Suwa said in comments extended to Sudan Tribune.

“Now to me, this unity is something that we can really celebrate. It has given me hope that left alone, away from these political challenges that we are made to drink every day, South Sudanese can find a space to live together,” Suwa added.

South Sudan erupted in violence in mid-December last year following a power struggle within the country’s ruling party (SPLM).

The fighting has largely pitted members of president Salva Kiir’s Dinka tribe against rebel forces loyal to former vice-president Riek Machar, who is of Nuer ethnicity.

The Yei training is part of a three-year initiative formed by Kiir in April and headed by the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church, Daniel Deng Bul, which aims to promote national healing and reconciliation

The eighty trainees in Yei were drawn from all corners of South Sudan.

According to organisers, participants will be equipped with concrete skills and knowledge on facilitation, as well as on theories and approaches to reconciliation.

The workshop is being facilitated by South Africa’s Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR).

Over the next three years, the committee aims to facilitate a nation-wide consultation process at a grassroots level.

The purpose will be to document the diverse narratives from communities to ensure that South Sudan’s future reconciliation is driven and shaped by the people’s experiences, knowledge and needs.

CNHPR’s planned consultation process is being held under the banner ‘A Step Together: Shared Journeys of Listening and Dialogue’.

Some 550 peace mobilisers will travel to various payams (districts) across South Sudan with the view to developing a people-driven agenda for national reconciliation.

Similar attempts by church leaders to reconcile feuding communities, such as in Jonglei state, have largely failed until now.

However, participants and organisers of the reconciliation workshop say the current approach being adopted is already bearing fruit.

“One of the problems with the Jonglei process was that people wanted to be praised for the outcome; they wanted to take the credit and to make history,” said Rev. John Chol Dau, also a participant.

“There is a contradiction between being a peacemaker and being someone who wants to receive the credit,” Dau noted.

There was also acknowledgement of the importance of engaging with all groups within society to promote a message of peace and unity.

“One of these key groups is the youth in our cattle camps, who need our support in addressing violence,” another trainee said.

During the workshop participants provided testimonies and have pledged to use what they have learnt when they return to their communities.

“This to me is very positive. I think we will have a lot of stories to tell when we go forward from here,” Suwa said.

It has been alleged that thousands civilians of Nuer origin were killed in Juba at the onset of the conflict.

Members of the Dinka tribe were also killed in Nuer areas, including one raid on a UN base in Akobo that left 30 people dead in December.

In April, the UN alleged that rebel fighters killed hundreds of people sheltering in a mosque and hospital after capturing Unity state capital Bentiu from government forces.

The violence has displaced more than 1.5 million people, with tens of thousands of internally displaced people seeking shelter at UN sites across the country since the violence broke out.

Human rights advocacy groups said the killings on both sides of the conflict is tantamount to war crimes, and the US government says the perpetuators must be held to account for meaningful peace and reconciliation to be achieved.

Both warring parties maintain they are committed to ensuring accountability for crimes committed by their forces, but are yet to make any arrests.

(ST)

CONTACTS: Vivian Fiore - Vivian.fiore@rotary.org, Phone: +1 (847) 866-3234 (US)

HUMANITARIAN GROUP’S OCTOBER 24 LIVESTREAM EVENT FROM CHICAGO FEATURES TOP GLOBAL HEALTH EXPERTS, POLIO-SURVIVOR MINDA DENTLER, POP STAR TESSANNE CHIN, REGGAE’S ZIGGY MARLEY AND MORE

EVANSTON, Ill. (Oct. 21, 2014) — With the world “This Close”—99%—to eliminating polio from the planet, the effort is receiving an additional US$ 44.7 million boost from Rotary to support immunization activities, surveillance, and research spearheaded by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which aims to end the disabling viral disease worldwide by 2018.

Polio is set to become the second human disease ever to be eliminated from the world (smallpox is the first). To date, Rotary has helped 193 countries stop the transmission of polio through the mass immunization of children. Rotary’s new funding commitment, announced in advance of the Oct. 24 observance of World Polio Day 2014, targets countries where children remain at risk of contracting this incurable, but totally vaccine-preventable, disease.

“It is fitting that this round of Rotary grants coincides with World Polio Day, which we use to raise awareness of -- and support for – the global campaign to end this terrible disease once and for all,” said Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko, the organization’s top executive. “Rotary is committed to relegating polio to the history books, and we welcome everyone’s support as we move ever closer to our goal of a polio-free world.”

He noted that the end-game strategy against polio includes the introduction of inactivated, injectable polio vaccine to supplement the progress achieved through the immunization of 2.5 billion children with the oral polio vaccine. Leading that effort is Sanofi Pasteur, the largest manufacturer of polio vaccine and co-sponsor with Rotary of a special program in Chicago on World Polio Day.

“As more than 120 countries in the world are introducing the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), we are beginning the last chapter on polio eradication,” said Olivier Charmeil, Sanofi Pasteur chief executive officer. “At Sanofi Pasteur, we have had a long-term vision of IPV as the ultimate public health tool able to finish the job started with Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). Today we are honored to stand alongside Rotary, the historical partner in the battle against polio.”

About $18.5 million will go to the three remaining polio-endemic countries: Afghanistan ($7.4 million) Nigeria ($8.4 million), and Pakistan ($2.7 million). An endemic country is one where the wild poliovirus has never been stopped.

Another $9.5 million is marked for previously polio-free countries currently reporting cases “imported” from the endemic countries: Cameroon ($3.5 million), Ethiopia ($2 million), and Somalia ($4 million).

And $10.4 million will go to polio-free countries that remain at risk of reinfection: Democratic Republic of Congo ($1.5 million), India ($4.9 million), Niger ($1 million), South Sudan ($2 million), and Sudan ($1 million).

The remaining $6.3 million will go toward polio eradication research.

Rotary provides grant funding to polio eradication initiative partners UNICEF and the World Health Organization, which work with the governments and Rotary club members of polio-affected countries to plan and carry out immunization activities. Mass immunizations of children via the oral polio vaccine must continue until global eradication is achieved.

To date, Rotary has contributed more than $1.3 billion to fight polio. Through 2018, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match two-to-one every dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication (up to $35 million a year). As of 2013, there were only 416 confirmed polio cases in the world, down from about 350,000 a year when the initiative launched in 1988.

‘END POLIO NOW: MAKE HISTORY TODAY’ LIVESTREAM EVENT

24 October 2014 - World Polio Day, (6:30 pm CT) at: http://ow.ly/A7OKy

For the second year in a row, Rotary will mark World Polio Day with a livestream event featuring a global status update on the fight to end polio as well as an array of guest speakers and performers. Streaming from Chicago, and hosted by TIME magazine science and technology editor Jeffrey Kluger, highlights of the event include:

• Tessanne Chin, 2013 winner of the TV show “The Voice,” will perform a song during the program, followed by a benefit concert after the event.
• Reggae star Ziggy Marley will welcome participants to the event and perform via video.
• Minda Dentler, polio survivor and Ironman competitor, will share her personal story.
• Remarks via video by Olivier Charmeil, chief executive officer of Sanofi Pasteur, and Bernadette Hendrickx, Senior Medical and Scientific advisor to the CEO of Sanofi Pasteur, will deliver remarks live.
• Addresses by Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko, Rotary Foundation Vice-Chair Michael McGovern, and Dr. James Alexander, senior medical epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ABOUT ROTARY

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. In 1988, Rotary was joined by the WHO, UNICEF and the CDC to launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Visit rotary.org and endpolio.org for more about Rotary and its efforts to eradicate polio. Video and still images will be available on the Rotary Media Center.

10/27/2014 - 07:45 GMT

International donors pledged $8 billion in development aid Monday for projects across eight countries in the Horn of Africa, UN chief Ban Ki-moon announced at the start of a visit to the region.

The aid, from organisations including the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), European Union and Islamic Development Bank (IDB), will support efforts to boost economies and stem conflict and hunger across the volatile region.

Countries targeted are Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.

"The countries of the Horn of Africa are making important yet unheralded progress in economic growth and political stability," Ban said in a statement.

"Now is a crucial moment to support those efforts, end the cycles of conflict and poverty, and move from fragility to sustainability."

Ban, who begins his Horn of Africa trip in Ethiopia Monday, is due to travel onwards to neighbouring Djibouti and Kenya, leading a delegation from six other international organisations.

Alongside Ban is World Bank president Jim Yong Kim, and officials from the African Union, EU, the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) bloc of nations, as well as the AfDB and IDB.

Projects include support for oil pipelines and improving transport links, as well as boosting education and internet access.

Aid will also aim to increase cross-border trade, and boost economic growth in a region struggling with rampant unemployment as well as millions of people forced from their homes by war or hunger.

"This new financing represents a major new opportunity for the people of the Horn of Africa to make sure they get access to clean water, nutritious food, health care, education, and jobs," World Bank chief Kim said.

"There is greater opportunity now for the Horn of Africa to break free from its cycles of drought, food insecurity, water insecurity, and conflict."

While in Nairobi, Ban will also launch a global campaign to end female genital mutilation.

This is the third trip that Ban has undertaken with the World Bank and other organisations, following visits to the Sahel and Great Lakes regions last year.

The visit comes amid efforts to end fighting in South Sudan that has sent nearly half a million refugees fleeing into neighbouring countries.

str-pjm/yad

© 1994-2014 Agence France-Presse

Global Highlights

• During the third quarter of 2014, the global cereal price index decreased by 13% year-on-year, down by 11% compared to the previous quarter.

• Real prices of maize have fallen by almost a third since last year. They are down 18% from Q2-2014, reaching levels seen in early 2010.

• Real prices of wheat dropped by 18% from Q2 to Q3-2014, falling to mid-2010 levels.

• Real prices of rice are up 7% since Q2-2014.

• During Q3-2014, the cost of the minimum food basket increased severely (>10%) in El Salvador, Honduras, Iraq, Liberia and Sudan. High increases (5-10%) were seen in four countries: Nicaragua, Guinea, Thailand and Viet Nam.

• Price spikes, as monitored by ALPS (Alert for Price Spikes), are evident in Burundi, Chad, India, Malawi, Mozambique, Sir Lanka, Sudan and Zambia. These spikes indicate crisis levels for the most important staple in the country.

HIGHLIGHTS

• As of 23rd October, 43,940 new arrivals have been received since the beginning of influx. This brings the total camp population to 178,922..

HIGHLIGHTS

• Back from her first visit to South Sudan, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura warned that sexual violence is a consistent characteristic of the conflict, and is being perpetrated by all the parties. “What I witnessed in Bentiu is the worst I have seen in my almost 30 years in dealing with this issue. This is because of the combination of chronic insecurity, unimaginable living conditions, acute day-to-day protection concerns and rampant sexual violence,” said Mrs. Bangura.

• The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. António Guterres, and UN Secretary-General’s Humanitarian Envoy, Dr. Abdullah al Matouq, visited Sudan on 21 and 22 October, with a particular focus on the South Sudanese situation. The mission visited Joda border crossing and Al Alagaya site in White Nile State. Dr. al Matouq and Mr. Guterres met with H.E. the President of the Republic, Field Marshall Omar Al Bashir, and Government Ministers to discuss ways in which the international humanitarian community can strengthen its partnerships with the Government to improve cooperation and enhance the provision of assistance to those who need it. The High Commissioner expressed UNHCR’s gratitude for Sudan’s hospitality towards South Sudanese refugees, while calling for much-needed further financial support from the donor community.

• The South Sudan Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) was of the unanimous view that the L3 for South Sudan should be extended. While noting that the humanitarian response had achieved a lot in 2014, the HCT highlighted that there are still 700,000 people who humanitarian partners have not been able to reach. The HCT also noted that more must be done to ramp-up the humanitarian response in the dry season.

Highlights

• WFP urgently requires US$106 million for the next six months to meet the needs of all refugees in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan.

• The resource situation remains critical in all four countries. Shortfalls may require WFP to cut rations and suspend programmes, in order to prioritize assistance for new arrivals.

• The nutrition situation among children is of serious concern. WFP is strengthening its nutritional assistance but further contributions are required to sustain critical food support to children, pregnant and breastfeeding women and other vulnerable new arrivals.

• Fears of renewed fighting as the rainy season ends may have an impact on the number of new arrivals crossing the border into neighbouring countries.

Highlights

• WFP continues to work towards the safe and immediate return of its abducted staff member. The WFP national field security officer was abducted at the Malakal airport on 16 October by eight armed men in plain clothes. Efforts both in Malakal and in Juba are ongoing for his safe release.

• Increased insecurity for staff and assets pose serious operational concerns for WFP in Malakal. Following the abduction of the national field security officer and increased tensions among staff living in the UNMISS base, the safety of those staff members is at risk. As they are becoming increasingly anxious, WFP’s level of engagement is affected.

• WFP’s Logistics team presents its 2015 prepositioning plan. At Monday’s Humanitarian Country Team meeting, the hybrid plan was shared. It includes the introduction of a regional humanitarian framework agreement endorsed by all stakeholders including relevant neighbouring countries.

• Airdrops commence on 17 October for Yida refugee camp.

Highlights

• Compared with January, UNHAS transported 60 per cent and 80 per cent more passengers and cargo respectively in September, a reflection of the increasing demand for air transport movement es-pecially to difficult locations.

• On the request of UNHAS Users, five new destinations were added (Gorwai, Chotbora, Mathiang, Kaldak and Ulang) to the weekly schedule in September and early October to meet the increasing need for humanitarian access.

• More than 78 per cent of the 23 new destinations added by UNHAS from the beginning of the year are in Jonglei (9), Unity(3) and Up-per Nile (6) states, the epicentres of the humanitarian response in the country.

• In order to meet WFP/UNHAS commitment to enhance customer satisfaction, UNHAS implemented Customer Service Training for 40 front desk officers, airport staff as well as cooperating partners from 27th September to 11th October.

• In September, UNHAS performed 1,073 flights to 45 destinations and cancelled 38 flights. Cancellations were caused by bad weather (52%), fuel shortage and other operational reasons (24%) technical reasons (18%), and security related issues(5%).

• UNHAS supported 29 special missions to 18 destinations for the EU, IOM, MSF-Holland, OCHA, Tearfund, UNICEF, UNDSS, WFP and WHO during the month.

East Africa continues to be a region experiencing major challenges. In recent years, it has endured regular violent conflicts and steady transnational security threats. It is the only region in Africa where colonial era borders have been redrawn, adding to a sense of instability. Meanwhile, East Africa remains a place of great potential, marked by a burgeoning process of regional integration. Key to this process is the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a principal East African organization composed of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. This paper examines IGAD and its role in the maintenance of peace and security and economic integration in the region.

The report highlights the various structural and political challenges facing IGAD as well as the presence of economic and geographical conditions that can catalyze and enhance greater interdependence and cooperation among the region’s states. The report begins by identifying the characteristics and geopolitics of the IGAD region that affect integration, before it examines areas for engagement regarding security challenges, economic cooperation, and environmental protection. It concludes by noting some opportunities for future growth, such as the need for an independent dispute resolution mechanism and a proposed IGAD development bank.

About the author

Solomon Dersso is Head of the Peace and Security Council Report at the Addis Ababa office of the Institute for Security Studies.

About this series

This paper is part of the Mapping Multilateralism in Transition series, which features short briefing papers on established but evolving regional organizations and select crossregional organizations.

27 October 2014 - More than 60 civilians were injured yesterday after fighting broke at a protection of civilians site next to UN House on the outskirts of Juba, according to a UN spokesperson.

Four of the injured civilians were in serious condition, while two armed UN Police officers suffered minor injuries in the melee. Tear gas and warning shots were fired to halt the rioting.

“By late afternoon yesterday, however, the situation was brought under control,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric at a press briefing. “The mission is investigating the cause of the rioting, and two suspects have been detained by UN Police on suspicion of allegedly instigating the violence,” he added.

Some 11,000 civilians are being protected by UNMISS at the site where the fighting broke out, while more than 100,000 civilians are housed at such sites nationwide.

In related news, Mr. Dujarric noted that $637 million was still required to maintain humanitarian aid operations in South Sudan until year’s end. Thus far, 61 per cent of the $1.8 billion requested has been received. In all, aid agencies in South Sudan have reached 3.5 million of the 3.8 million people targeted with some form of aid this year.

UN Secretary-General, WBG and IsDBG Presidents, and other Agency Heads Visit Region to Link Peace Efforts with Economic Progress

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, October 27, 2014—Leaders of global and regional institutions today begin an historic trip to the Horn of Africa to pledge political support and major new financial assistance for countries in the region, totaling more than $8 billion over the coming years. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the World Bank Group (WBG) President, Jim Yong Kim, as well as the President of the Islamic Development Bank Group and high level representatives of the African Union Commission, the European Union, the African Development Bank, and Intergovernmental Agency for Development (IGAD) are combining forces to promote stability and development in the Horn of Africa.

On the first day of the joint trip, the World Bank Group announced a major new financial pledge of $1.8 billion for cross-border activities in a Horn of Africa Initiative that will boost economic growth and opportunity, reduce poverty, and spur business activity.

The initiative covers the eight countries in the Horn of Africa -- Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.

“This new financing represents a major new opportunity for the people of the Horn of Africa to make sure they get access to clean water, nutritious food, health care, education, and jobs,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. “There is greater opportunity now for the Horn of Africa to break free from its cycles of drought, food insecurity, water insecurity, and conflict by building up regional security, generating a peace dividend, especially among young women and men, and spurring more cross-border cooperation.”

Leading the trip to the Horn of Africa, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon said "The countries of the Horn of Africa are making important yet unheralded progress in economic growth and political stability. Now is a crucial moment to support those efforts, end the cycles of conflict and poverty, and move from fragility to sustainability. The United Nations is joining with other global and regional leaders to ensure a coherent and coordinated approach towards peace, security and development in the Horn of Africa."

The European Union also announced that it would support the countries in the region with a total of around $3.7 billion until 2020, of which about 10 percent would be for cross-border activities; the African Development Bank announced a pledge of $1.8 billion over the next three years for countries of the Horn of Africa region; while the Islamic Development Bank committed to deploy up to $1 billion in new financing in its four member countries in the Horn of Africa (Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda).

The Horn is diverse, with some of the fastest growing economies and huge untapped natural resources. However, it also has many extraordinarily poor people and populations that are now doubling every 23 years. Unemployment is widespread among growing numbers of young people. Women, in particular, face huge obstacles because of their gender, including limited land rights, limited education, and social customs that often thwart their ability to pursue economic opportunity, and improve living conditions for their families and communities.

Countries in the region are also vulnerable to corruption, piracy, arms and drug trafficking. Terrorism, and related money flows are significant and interconnected threats in the Horn of Africa. People-trafficking is also a growing problem in the region. However, there are commendable efforts being made through regional cooperation in parts of the Horn to tackle the root causes of these problems.

The new financing announcement will support those efforts and comes on the first day of the trip led by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, to discuss peace, security, and resilience. In addition to the UN Secretary-General, other leaders making the trip are World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim; Islamic Development Bank Group President Ahmad Mohamed Ali; African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Erastus Mwencha; Intergovernmental Agency for Development (IGAD) Executive Secretary, Ambassador Mahboub Maalim; African Development Bank Group Special Advisor to the President, Youssouf Ouedraogo; Deputy Director General for Development and Cooperation, European Commission, Marcus Cornaro and European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Alexander Rondos.

The World Bank Group said its new $1.8 billion packaging, which is in addition to its existing development programs for the eight countries, would create more economic opportunity throughout the region for some of the most vulnerable peoples, including refugees and internally displaced populations and their host communities. Wars and instability have generated more than 2.7 million refugees along with over 6 million internally displaced people. The Bank Group will also help the region build up its communicable disease surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment capacity.

Many of these diseases are associated with or exacerbated by poverty, displacement, malnutrition, illiteracy, and poor sanitation and housing. Increased cross-border trade and economic activity in the Horn of Africa will necessitate simultaneous investments in strengthening disease control efforts and outbreak preparedness.

The Bank Group will also support greater regional links between countries with regional transport routes, stronger ICT and broadband connectivity, more competitive private sector markets, increased cross-border trade, regional development of oil and gas through pipeline development, and the expansion of university and other tertiary education.

The Bank Group’s pledge includes $600 million from the IFC, its private sector arm, which will support economic development in the countries of the Horn. IFC investments under the new Horn Initiative will include a regional pipeline linking Uganda and Kenya; greater investment in agribusiness expansion in storage, processing, and seeds; possible public-private partnerships in pharmaceuticals, renewable energy and transport; and financial advice and support to government and companies to improve business confidence and investment, access to markets, and access to private finance. Another $200 million is for guarantees against political risks from the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.

A new World Bank Group paper forecasts that the Horn will undergo dramatic and lasting change when oil production starts in Kenya, Uganda, and possibly Somalia and Ethiopia.

For its part, the European Union’s Horn of Africa approach is based on a strategic framework adopted in 2011. Support programs for 2014-2020 will be guided by the same analysis that underpins the World Bank’s Horn of Africa Initiative and will focus on the development challenges that must be tackled to unlock the region's considerable potential. EU support will mostly target the three pillars of the Horn of Africa Initiative: boosting growth, reducing poverty by promoting resilience, and creating economic opportunities.

“The EU stands ready to further deepen its long-standing partnership with the Horn of Africa – helping to build robust and accountable political structures, enhancing trade and economic cooperation, financing peace keeping activities and providing humanitarian assistance and development cooperation,” said European Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs prior to the trip.

Other leaders on the trip said that the Horn of Africa region needs new development assistance in order to secure peace and opportunity to thrive and prevent future conflicts.

The Islamic Development Bank Group said its new financing for Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda over 2015-2017 would focus on critical infrastructure development, food security, human development, and trade. A further $2 billion could be provided by the Arab Coordination Group over the same period.

Commenting on this announcement, Islamic Development Bank Group President Ahmad Mohamed Ali said "The Horn of Africa is an important gateway to Africa and a bridge to Western Asia. Bringing stability and sustainable development to the Horn of Africa will undoubtedly significantly contribute to stability across the entire African continent. The Islamic Development Bank Group salutes this renewed focus on the Horn of Africa and stands ready to work with all partners, including the Arab Coordination Group, to support regional cooperation and the economic revival of the Horn of Africa, especially in its four member countries."

“Given the complexity of the environment prevailing in the region, we must convince ourselves that it is not the financial means that will win in the Horn of Africa region, but our commitment and determination to act under the leadership of the countries in a united and coordinated manner,” said African Development Bank Group Representative, Youssouf Ouedraogo, Special Advisor to the President.

African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson, Erastus Mwencha, added, “Our efforts to create peace and stability must be reinforced by investments in the peoples and countries of the Horn.”

A new WBG regional study on the Horn of Africa released today at the start of the trip found reasons for hope for the region: “Despite the challenges the Horn of Africa faces, there are encouraging signs of political momentum for enhanced regional economic interdependence. Increasingly, Horn of Africa countries are members of the East African Community, IGAD in Eastern Africa, and the Common Market for East and Southern Africa. Some countries are showing strong political will to solve both security and development issues through increased cooperation—for example, many have sent troops to participate in peace-keeping efforts and have participated in diplomatic initiatives.”

“This mission is the apex of an ambitious partnership approach that will provide the necessary instruments to strengthen the resilience agenda in the IGAD region," said IGAD Executive Secretary, Ambassador Mahboub Maalim. For the UN’s Ban and World Bank’s Kim, this is their third trip in 18 months together to Africa. In 2013, the two travelled to the Great Lakes and Sahel regions, drawing attention to the need to promote both peace and development. During the two previous trips, Kim pledged $2.7 billion for regional projects for programs to improve health, education, nutrition, access to energy, and job training. To see the results of these previous peace and development regional initiatives, visit: http://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/brief/world-bank-group-sahel-and-...

To see the new WBG regional paper on the Horn of Africa, please visit: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/10/20316926/

World Bank Contacts: Phil Hay mobile: +1 (202) 492-7238, phay@worldbank.org

In Addis Ababa: Gelila Woodeneh, work: +223 20 22 2283/22 3201, mobile: +223-76 04 7373, gwoodeneh@worldbank.org

UN Contacts: Vannina Maestracci, phone: 1-917-367-0293, mobile: 1-917-855-3143, maestracci@un.org

EU Contacts: Sven Ruesch, phone: +32 2 295 87 59, Sven.Ruesch@ec.europa.eu

Islamic Dev Bank: Muhammad Jameel Yusha'u, phone: +966-12-646 6492; mobile: +966-59-11 88 844, myushau@isdb.org

AUC Contacts: Habiba Mejri-Cheikh, habibam@africa-union.org

AfDB Contacts: Joel Serunkuma Kibazo, work: +225-20262024, mobile: +225-01229898, j.kibazo@afdb.org

Media Contacts

In Washington
Phil Hay
Tel : +1 (202) 492-7238
phay@worldbank.org

In Addis Ababa
Gelila Woodeneh
Tel : +251 911 501 196
gwoodeneh@worldbank.org

PRESS RELEASE NO:
2015/171/AFR

Marthe van der Wolf
October 27, 2014 9:34 AM

GAMBELLA—Available resources for South Sudan refugees in Ethiopia are under pressure as the warring parties continue to be deadlocked in flailing peace talks. More refugees are expected in the coming months as the conflict in the world’s youngest country turns almost a year old.

Since the conflict in South Sudan erupted in December, some 245,000 South Sudanese have fled to Gambella, a southwestern province of Ethiopia.

Pagak is one of the three main entry points used by refugees - who cross a bridge that functions as the border. Just after the bridge on the Ethiopian side, more than 2,700 refugees are waiting in the registration camp. And all of them need shelter, food and basic services.

Refugee Joseph Tek acts as camp leader on behalf of the refugee community. He said that people came to him with their needs, which he passed on to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

“They just need the mosquito net because of the mosquito bites. Plus they need food because in July we don’t have food here and we then receive food in August. And they feel cold because there is no blanket,” said Tek.

Nhial Yiech is a refugee who came to Ethiopia in March. He said they needed more services than what was provided.

He said they did’t have enough water, and medications. The diseases that affect people in this area are causing swollen throats, and many people have malaria.

Fighting continues since a political split between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar erupted into violence in the middle of December 2013. More than 10,000 people have died and more than 1.5 million have been displaced. Several agreed on cease-fires since then have failed to hold.

And there is little optimism that the violence in South Sudan will be halted any time soon, meaning refugees will keep coming to Ethiopia in need of relief.

There are 18 aid organizations assisting refugees in the Gambella region. They say, that up till now, they had a good year with enough resources. But the situation is changing with unforeseen costs, mainly due to of flooding here.

Gebrehiwot Ewnetu is a project coordinator for the Danish Refugee Council. He said their donors have asked the organization to tighten its belt.

“So for example, DRC built 10 kilometers of reticulation, water piping for the refugees. Once they were forced to evacuate the camp, it meant we had to do new water points. We had to start water trucking again and transporting water by truck is extremely expensive. Other agencies also have the exact same problems with the flooding and people moving. For example, if you built a school in one place and people move, you have to build another school in another place, and things like that,” said Ewnetu.

The rainy season flooded roads and camps and temporarily slowed down the influx of refugees. But there are still 50 to 60 new arrivals every day at Akobo, another border point.

Dennis Solberg Kjeldsen, of the International Federation of the Red Cross, said that they were bracing for a new wave of displaced people.

“We are all expecting that once the rains subsiding in South Sudan, that will potentially mean the rise of conflicts and people wanting to go in search of food security. And where will they come? They will come here,” he said.

The rains are expected to stop in a few weeks’ time and organizations such as IFRC (International Federation of the Red Cross) are launching an international appeal to raise more funds. They estimate their basic running costs to be about $3 million over the next 6 months. Kjeldsen said raising money for South Sudan would not be easy.

“With the amounts of emergencies in the world right now. On this continent you have three very large emergencies: in South Sudan, in the Central African Republic, and Ebola. Which are not only taking up financial resources they are also taking up human resources, material resources. And that’s stretching us,” said Kjeldsen.

Just 3 years after independence, South Sudan’s political leaders are trying the international community’s patience. Many fault the government for prolonging a manufactured crisis and the development and aid money once flowing in is slowing down considerably.

And with that more displaced South Sudanese are leaving. Ethiopia is hosting more South Sudan refugees than any other African country.

HIGHLIGHTS

• South Sudan: IOM is developing a curriculum on implementation of mental health and psychosocial services.

• Ethiopia: IOM has evacuated a total of 542 refugees in Gambella Region during this reporting period.

• Kenya: Since mid December 2013, IOM and UNHCR have provided transportation assistance to 32,576 refugees.

OVERVIEW

Since the civil conflict began in December 2013, over 1.4 million people remain internally displaced in South Sudan, 467, 009 individuals have fled South Sudan and are seeking refuge in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda (Source: UNCHR Sitrep 24 October 2014). The overall situation in South Sudan remains tense and unpredictable. Renewed armed actions in Doleib Hill, Upper Nile State were reported last week. Logistical constraints brought about by the rainy season have dampened active hostilities in the past months. Humanitarian partners are concerned that armed actions may increase with the onset of the dry season—around November 2014.

Ethiopia: Ethiopian borders remain open for refugees from South Sudan. 190,510 South Sudanese refugees have entered Ethiopia since the conflict broke out in mid-December 2013 (Source: UNHCR Sitrep, 24 October 2014). The South Sudanese refugee population has become the largest refugee group in Ethiopia, surpassing the Somali refugee population according to UNHCR.

Uganda remains the second largest receiving country in the region, for refugees from South Sudan, with 128,816 refugees having arrived in the country. (Source: UNHCR Sitrep 24 October). The operational planning figure for Uganda remains at 150,000 refugees until the end of December 2014. Refugees continue to be hosted in refugee settlements in three districts: Adjumani, Kiryandongo and Arua. The majority of new arrivals in Uganda are women, and among the total registered population 64.6% are children.

Furthermore, 3,750 persons with special needs have been registered by partner agencies among the refugees in Uganda. To date, 176 shelters have been constructed for them by partner agencies. IOM has reached out to 838 persons with special needs, through household-level water and sanitation support including construction of household latrines and hand washing facilities, and hygiene sensitization campaigns.

27 octobre 2014 – Lors d'une visite lundi dans la Corne de l'Afrique, le Secrétaire général des Nations Unies, Ban Ki-moon, le Président de la Banque mondiale, Jim Yong Kim, et des représentants de plusieurs organisations internationales et régionales de développement ont annoncé lundi une aide financière de 8 milliards de dollars au cours des prochaines années pour la région.

Le groupe mené par M. Ban est composé du Président de la Banque mondiale, du Président de la Banque islamique de développement, Ahmad Mohamed Ali et des représentants de la Commission de l'Union africaine, de l'Union européenne, de la Banque africaine de développement et de l'Autorité intergouvernementale pour le développement (IGAD). Ces organisations joignent ainsi leurs forces pour promouvoir la stabilité et le développement dans la Corne de l'Afrique.

« Les pays de la Corne de l'Afrique enregistrent des progrès considérables, qui restent cependant méconnus, sur le plan économique et politique. Il s'agit donc d'un moment propice pour soutenir leurs efforts, mettre fin aux cycles des conflits et à la pauvreté, et passer ainsi d'une situation de fragilité à un développement durable », a indiqué M. Ban dans un communiqué de presse.

« Les Nations Unies s'associent aujourd'hui aux autres dirigeants d'organisations internationales et régionales pour mettre en place une approche conjointe et cohérente au service de la paix, de la sécurité et du développement dans la Corne de l'Afrique », a-t-il ajouté.

La Corne de l'Afrique est une région d'une grande diversité avec un énorme potentiel de ressources naturelles non exploitées. Certains pays enregistrent l'une des croissances les plus rapides du continent. Mais la région recense aussi un nombre très important de personnes pauvres et sa population double tous les vingt-trois ans. Le chômage affecte une grande partie des jeunes qui sont de plus en plus nombreux. Les femmes, en particulier, sont confrontées à de nombreux obstacles, du fait de leur genre. Elles ont moins de droits fonciers, reçoivent peu d'éducation et les traditions sociales les empêchent souvent d'accéder à une activité économique qui pourrait pourtant améliorer les conditions de vie de leurs familles et de leurs communautés.

Les pays de la région sont aussi victimes de la corruption, de la piraterie, du trafic d'armes et de drogue. Le terrorisme et les mouvements de fonds qui en découlent constituent aussi une menace pour la Corne de l'Afrique. Le trafic d'êtres humains est aussi un problème croissant. Il convient toutefois de saluer les efforts conjoints qui ont déjà été entrepris pour combattre ces problèmes à la source.

La Banque mondiale a annoncé dès le début de cette visite une enveloppe importante de 1,8 milliard de dollars en faveur des échanges transfrontaliers dans le cadre de l'initiative pour la Corne de l'Afrique, visant à stimuler la croissance économique, créer des opportunités, relancer les affaires et réduire la pauvreté. Huit pays de la Corne de l'Afrique bénéficieront de cette aide : Djibouti, l'Erythrée, l'Ethiopie, le Kenya, la Somalie, le Soudan du Sud, le Soudan et l'Ouganda.

« Ce nouveau financement représente une opportunité majeure pour les habitants de la Corne de l'Afrique de faire en sorte qu'ils aient accès à une eau propre, à une alimentation à haute valeur nutritionnelle, à des soins de santé, à l'éducation et à des emplois », a souligné Jim Yong Kim, président du Groupe de la Banque mondiale. Il a ajouté que « la Corne de l'Afrique tient là une occasion unique de se libérer des cycles de sècheresses, de l'insécurité alimentaire, du manque d'eau et des conflits, en renforçant la sécurité, en distribuant les dividendes de la paix, tout particulièrement au bénéfice des jeunes femmes et hommes, et en favorisant la coopération transfrontalière ».

L'enveloppe de 1,8 milliard de dollars, qui s'ajoute aux projets déjà mis en œuvre par la Banque mondiale dans ces 8 pays, devrait accroître les opportunités économiques des populations les plus vulnérables, notamment les réfugiés et personnes déplacées, ainsi que leurs communautés d'accueil. La région recense aujourd'hui plus de 2,7 millions de réfugiés et 6 millions de personnes déplacées du fait des guerres et de l'instabilité régionale.

L'Union européenne s'est engagée pour sa part à fournir 3,7 milliards de dollars d'ici 2020, dont 10% seront consacrés au développement des activités transfrontalières dans la région. La Banque africaine de développement a garanti 1,8 milliards au cours des trois prochaines années. De son côté la Banque islamique de développement compte fournir près d'un milliard de dollars en faveur de Djibouti, de la Somalie, du Soudan et de l'Ouganda, ses pays membres dans la Corne de l'Afrique.

This brief summarizes FEWS NET’s most forward-looking analysis of projected emergency food assistance needs in FEWS NET coverage countries. The projected size of each country’s acutely food insecure population is compared to last year and the recent five-year average. Countries where external emergency food assistance needs are anticipated are identified. Projected lean season months highlighted in red indicate either an early start or an extension to the typical lean season. Additional information is provided for countries with large food insecure populations, an expectation of high severity, or where other key issues warrant additional discussion.

October 27, 2014 (NAIROBI) – At least one person was reportedly killed and more than eight other seriously injured when South Sudanese rival communities clashed on Sunday at Kakuma refugee in western Kenya.

Sources said the clashes between Nuer and Dinka communities, the largest and belligerent ethnic groups in South Sudan, occurred when a 9-year old Nuer girl-child was allegedly raped by a Dinka man, leaving her in critical condition.

“The clashes happened on Sunday evening when a Dinka adult raped a 9-year old girl-child, ripping her genitals and leaving her in coma,” Gai Dup Wur, one of the Nuer community leaders told Sudan Tribune.

He said the child was rushed to the medical center in critical condition while her father initially calmed down the situation, asking the Nuer youth not to take the law into their own hands as the police arrested the criminal.

Wur, however, said the community was surprised when Kenyan police authorities set free the accused on Sunday evening.

A complaint, he said, was then launched to the Kenyan police by the community leaders to re-arrest the criminal, but the police officer on duty tore the complaint paper, stirring anger among the Nuer youth who went to forcefully capture the freed Dinka man.

“The Dinka community in a section of the camp named Hong Kong resisted the attempt to capture the criminal and this led to the clashes between the two communities,” he said.

A spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) in Kenya confirmed the clashes, saying it was mainly in retaliation to the camp incident in which a nine year-old girl was alleged raped.

"One person was killed [but] we are still trying to find out from the community," said Emmanuel Nyabera, adding that “eight others were injured”.

VARRYING ACCOUNTS

Wur, however said, that eight members from the Dinka community were beaten to death by angry youth and 11 others were injured.

Among those killed was a member of the Didinga community, reportedly beaten to death by mistake, sources told Sudan Tribune.

Reports from health workers attending to the wounded at the medical centres confirmed that nine people died from the violence.

The Nuer community leader explained that until the occurrence of the rape case, the two communities had been living peacefully side by side in the camp, stressing that the situation would have been treated as an individual criminal case had the offender been arrested and brought to book.

So far members of the Dinka community have fled from various sections of the camp and sought refuge in schools run by the UN.

Wur said the situation had however remained calm on Monday as Kenyan police have been patrolling the camp, which is the largest in Kenya with the population of refugees nearing 150,000 people.

According to UNHCR, over 80,000 South Sudanese refugees currently live in Kakuma, with at least half of them said to have fled the country’s ongoing conflict.

(ST).

link: IOM Regional Response to South Sudan Crisis, External Sitrep, 20 - 26 October 2014

October 27, 2014 (RUMBEK) – At least seven people have been killed in a revenge attack that took place in South Sudan’s Lakes state county of Rumbek North on Monday, authorities told Sudan Tribune.

The incident was reportedly in retaliation to Saturday’s killing of two chiefs at Ayen Mayer village in Rumbek East county. The executive chief, Mamer Keer Malok and sub-chief, Yuol Janglei Marol were attacked and killed as they traveled to Rumbek Central county.

A police officer said the Kok Keer clan section attacked their Kok-Awac counterparts on suspicion of having killed the two chiefs.

“This morning, five people were killed from both side of Kok Keer and Kok-awac,” a police officer told Sudan Tribune, adding that eight people from both sides were wounded during the clashes.

Lakes state’s caretaker governor, Matur Chut Dhuol, has been accused of allegedly inciting various inter-clan fights in the region.

For instance, he reportedly instructed the police to confront pastoralist youth for fear that they could carry out revenge killings.

In a separate incident, fresh clashes occurred between join security forces and pastoralists at Apet cattle camp in Rumbek North county.

Authorities confirmed that a military car loaded with different of ammunitions was seized by pastoralists at Apet camp. Three soldiers and nine civilians were reportedly killed in the melee that ensured.

In recent months, the police and members of the public have been at logger heads, amid claims that the various communities have become increasingly defiant towards law enforcement agents.

Lakes state has been blighted by cattle raiding since South Sudan’s independence in July 2011 and continues to be locked in a cycle of inter-clan revenge clashes.

Youth activists and traditional authorities have repeatedly called for Dhuol’s removal over claims of failure to control violence, but president Salva Kiir has ignored such calls.

Dhuol was appointed caretaker governor by president Kiir in January 2013.

(ST)

Central African Republic: In Ouaka prefecture, fighting among rival militias persists. Attacks on a number locations, including Bambari, have left dozens of people dead, and civilians have been executed. 3,000 people remain displaced from Bangui after violence began in the middle of the month.

Yemen: Fierce clashes in Rada town have killed 250 people over the past few days. Houthis are fighting Qifa tribe members and Al Qaeda. The Houthis have announced that they will not be part of the new Government, relinquishing Houthi positions to representatives of the South. 33 southern members of parliament have formed a new bloc in support of the growing protest camp set up in Aden, which is demanding secession.

Nigeria: Despite reports of a truce between Boko Haram and the Government, violence is continuing. The military took a town back from BH in Borno state, and Boko Haram attacked several more villages, kidnapping at least 90 people in three separate incidents. Over 4,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict so far in 2014.

Updated: 28/10/2014. Next update: 04/11/2014

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