The Government of Japan has approved to extend grant assistance of 350,000 USD for “the Project for Provision of Training to Medical Staff working in the Main Health Facilities of Juba town and Surroundings” to The Volunteers’ Organization for International Co-operation (OVCI), an Italian Based Organization which has implemented various projects in health and education projects for more than 30 years in Juba.

Mr. Takeshi Akamatsu, Ambassador of Japan to South Sudan, said “Responding to the humanitarian needs for saving people’s live is of utmost importance in South Sudan and no one can deny the urgent needs to address those people who are in dire need of help. But at the same time, we also believe that efforts on enhancing operational capacity, such as upgrading the knowledge and skills of medical staff can and will bring a synergy effects on ongoing efforts by the international community in addressing current needs of the people as well as for the future of the South Sudanese. ” The Grant Contract was signed on 10 March 2015, between Mr. Akamatsu, Ambassador of Japan and Ms. Manuela Vittor, the Country Representative of OVCI for the above mentioned project. This project includes construction of training facilities and provision of the training to the medical staff in public health sector in South Sudan.

About GGP

Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human Security Projects (GGP) is designed particularly to support the community-level socio-economic development projects addressing Basic Human Needs (BHN) such as access to health, water and sanitation, education, income generation skills, and other means to maximize opportunities for individuals.
GGP’s approach reflects the Government of Japan’s strong commitment in upholding the notion of ‘Human Security’ as basic human rights for all. All individuals, in particular vulnerable people, are entitled to freedom from fear and freedom from want, with an equal opportunity to enjoy all their rights and fully develop their human potential. By directly supporting the projects implemented by grassroots organizations, GGP encourages bottom-up efforts by the local communities, and realize their empowerment.

For more information, please contact Hisako Ishizaki, First Secretary, Economic Cooperation Section, Embassy of Japan in the Republic of South Sudan Tel: +211 (0)959 003 152 E-mail: hisako.ishizaki@mofa.go.jp

Iraq: 26,000 people have fled fighting between Islamic State and Iraqi security forces in Tikrit for Samarra. Food, shelter, health and WASH needs are priorities. More than 100 families have arrived in Al Dour, located between Tikrit and Samarra, and thousands have fled to central and southern governorates.

South Sudan: Heavy fighting between government and opposition was reported in Upper Nile state, and government troops took control of Wadakona town. Many civilians are reported trapped. Peace talks have collapsed.

Nigeria: Boko Haram-related violence has caused over 4,000 deaths in Borno state alone since the beginning of 2015. 5.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Global Emergency Overview Web Interface

Gambella, Ethiopia, 5 March 2015-(UNHCR)-Dr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), visited Tierkidi refugee camp in western Ethiopia, home to nearly 50,000 refugees who fled the ongoing war in South Sudan. He held focus group discussions with refugee representatives and toured some key camp amenities including a health center, a child-friendly space and a grinding mill managed by different agencies in the camp.

He later told representatives of the humanitarian agencies on the ground that despite their good efforts, refugees told him that there were still gaps in important supplies and services including shelter, education and water.

“You should feel proud of the work you are doing,” he told humanitarian workers he met at the UNHCR office in Gambella. “But with all the wealth South Sudan has, the condition of the refugees is completely unacceptable.” Urging the parties to the conflict to end all hostilities so that the refugees can go back home, the Executive Secretary remarked, “I wish the politicians had a sense of the reality in the refugee camps.”

Mr. Lopez, who at the level of United Nations Under Secretary General, is in charge of UN-wide security issues in Ethiopia, thanked the government for its open door policy to refugees. “Ethiopia is the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa today precisely because it’s a very stable country”. He said this is evident in the fact that the government not only provides effective protection to refugees but also good security for humanitarian agencies to do their work.” He observed that Ethiopia is today receiving attention more for its role as a stabilizing agent in the region and less as the largest refugee-hosting country in the continent. “This visit has saved me from speaking about the refugees in abstract terms and I’ll not fulfill my role if I don’t bring what I saw today to the fore”.

Visibly frustrated by the slow pace of the peace process, he advised UNHCR and its partners to prepare for all exigencies.

UNHCR’s Representative in Ethiopia, Mr. Valentin Tapsoba, who is the incoming Director of the UN refugee agency’s Regional Bureau for Africa, said he was privileged to host the UN Under Secretary General in Tierkidi camp. “Now that you have seen the situation for yourself, I’m confident that you can advocate on behalf of the refugees from a position of experience and authority.”

Mr. Tapsoba thanked Ethiopia for its generosity to refugees and announced that the authorities have just granted a new site to UNHCR to develop it to a refugee camp. “The new site has the capacity to accommodate up to 50,000 refugees”, he said. “But given the fact that we have about 60,000 refugees around the border that need to be relocated and another 110,000 people who may freshly arrive in 2015, we call up on the government to grant additional sites.”

Ato Ayalew Awoke, Deputy Director of the government’s Administration for Refugee and Returnees Affairs, ARRA, appreciated Mr. Lopez for making time to see how the refugees were faring. “In just one year, we have received nearly 200,000 refugees,” he said, adding “The way things are going in South Sudan; it’s not unlikely to expect a fresh influx of refugees both as a result of war and food insecurity. Ato Ayalew reiterated the government’s open doors policy but stressed that the government and its humanitarian partners need support to be able to discharge their responsibilities well.

Mr. Samir Wanmali, Senior Deputy Director of the World Food Programme in Ethiopia echoed the Executive Secretary in appreciating the work of the humanitarian agencies in Gambella. He urged them to tell their stories better so that the international community can support them better.

Home to more than 676,000 refugees mainly from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrean and Sudan,
Ethiopia remains the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa. More than 260,000 are South Sudanese-most of who arrived since conflict erupted in the world’s youngest nation in December 2013. ARRA and UNHCR opened four refugee camps in Gambella in 2014 to accommodate South Sudanese who fled war and shortage of food in their country. More camps need to be set up to be able to relocate thousands who are already in the country and many more that may arrive in 2015.

Highlights

• The ETC is concentrating its efforts on providing emergency response data connectivity and security telecommunication services to priority locations being established by the Inter-Cluster Working Group (ICWG) in response to the ongoing complex crisis.

• Thirteen humanitarian organizations have been connected to HISP services in Malakal.

Achievements

• On-site as well as remote emergency response connectivity support continues to be provided to 11 ETC sites across South Sudan.

• Based on the prioritisation of locations, the two ETC sites UN House Juba-3 (Central Equatoria) and Nimule (Eastern Equatoria) were shut down on 01/03/2015, freeing up resources that will be utilized for new priority locations in the conflict affected states. These changes were agreed to by the Local ETC Working Group and well communicated to donors and partners.

• In Malakal (Upper Nile State), 13 humanitarian organizations have been connected to the recently implemented HISP connectivity, including a central site shared by five agencies. The service is fully operational in Malakal and an increasing number of agencies are showing interest in participating in the project.

• In Bentiu (Unity State), a faulty piece of equipment, causing unstable internet services, has been replaced and the connectivity services restored back to normal.

• In Aweil (Northern Bahr el Ghazal), a successful mission was carried out to resolve connectivity issues between partners’ equipment and HISP services.

Baltimore, MD (IOCC) — Thousands of South Sudanese families who fled the violence and bloodshed from their country's civil war now face new hardships as refugees in Ethiopia. More than 196,000 refugees, of which nearly two-thirds are children, have endured months of living out in open fields with little shelter from the searing sun, torrential rains, and floods that washed away the few possessions they managed to cling to in flight. Stagnant water and poor sanitation created a breeding ground for cholera and other infectious diseases, and threaten the health of children already weakened by a lack of food and harsh living conditions.

IOCC, in cooperation with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter Church Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC), is responding with efforts to stem the spread of disease. Newly constructed communal latrines provide privacy and sanitary facilities for 720 families from both the refugee camp and the host communities in Leitchuor, and 300 more refugee families will soon have access to similar facilities under construction in Kule camp. The distribution of soap, water storage cans and new blankets bring an added measure of comfort to 4,000 families with malnourished children and people living with HIV/AIDS at Tierkidi camp in Ethiopia's Gambela region.

IOCC, an ACT Alliance member, is also addressing the need to ease the emotional trauma facing the vulnerable refugees. Crisis counseling for 1,000 refugee children, women, and elderly helps each uprooted person develop the skills needed to cope with the daily stress of refugee life and the uncertainty of what their future holds.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

You can help the victims of poverty and conflicts around the world by making a financial gift to the IOCC International Emergency Response Fund which will provide immediate relief, as well as long-term support through the provision of emergency aid, recovery assistance and other support to help those in need. To make a gift, please visit iocc.org or call toll-free at 1-877-803-IOCC (4622), or mail a check or money order payable to IOCC, P.O. Box 17398, Baltimore, MD 21297.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES

IOCC is the official humanitarian aid agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. Since its inception in 1992, IOCC has delivered $538 million in relief and development programs to families and communities in more than 50 countries. IOCC is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of more than 140 churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy, and a member of InterAction, the largest alliance of U.S.–based secular and faith-based organizations working to improve the lives of the world's most poor and vulnerable populations. To learn more about IOCC, visit iocc.org.

Media contact: Rada K. Tierney, IOCC Media Relations, 443-823-3489, rtierney@iocc.org

Highlights:

• The total number of South Sudanese refugees who have entered Ethiopia since the outbreak of the conflict in mid-December 2013 is now 192,734, including 4,575 unaccompanied minors and 14,258 separated children. In total 250,000 South Sudanese refugees are resident in Ethiopia, Gambella Region.

• The average daily arrival rate of South Sudanese refugees to Gambella Region has remained low during the month of January, with an average of 78 individuals

• During the month of January, the Regional Health Bureau, supported by UNICEF and other partners conducted, the Enhanced Outreach Strategy (EOS) campaign as a part of the child survival programme in both host communities and refugee camps. From the host community, 53,494 children (99 per cent of the target) were provided with vitamin A, 38,240 (95 per cent of the target) children were dewormed and 53,432 children and 10,140 pregnant and lactating women were screened for malnutrition. In the refugee camps, 24,963 children (97 per cent of the target), were provided with vitamin A, 18,371 children (95 per cent of the target) were dewormed while 24,953 children and 4,186 pregnant and lactating women were screened for malnutrition.

Situation in Numbers

192,734 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Ethiopia since 15 December (UNHCR, January 2015)

78,457 refugee and host community children have been provided with vitamin A in January 2015 as part of the EOS campaign US$36.2 million– 2015 UNICEF Humanitarian Funding needs US$ 36.2 million (US$ 13.67 million for South Sudan refugee response)

Highlights

• UNICEF and partners continue to support over 140,462 South Sudanese refugees of which 87 per cent are women and children in the districts of Arua, Adjumani and Kiryandongo.

• UNICEF working with the Government of Uganda carried out an integrated nutrition screening through expanded programme on immunization outreach points and enrolled 2,254 children in refugee settlements into therapeutic feeding programs.

• UNICEF and partners have supported 46,000 refugee and host community women, men and children with clean water for households needs.

• A total of 2,195 separated children have been registered and provided foster or alternative care services using a Rapid Family Tracing and Re-unification (RAPID FTR) tool.

• UNICEF is supporting Government of Uganda to respond to a Typhoid fever outbreak in Kampala with over 100 cases.

Situation in Numbers

Refugees & Asylum Seekers:

274,582 # of children affected (UNHCR Jan 2015)
367,518 # of women and children affected (UNHCR Jan 2015)
422,435 # of refugees and asylum seekers affected (UNHCR Jan 2015)

10 March, 2015- The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) and head of UNMISS Ellen Margrethe Loej, and the U.S. Charge D’Affaires, Charles Twining, visited the Upper Nile State capital Malakal today.

“During this visit to Malakal I am trying to get an impression of the situation in the town and (surrounding areas),” said Ms. Loej, who added that she had met and had fruitful discussions with Acting State Governor Gwinye Philip Chan and ministers of the state.

“I think we have the same goal, (which is) for Malakal to go back to life that existed before the crisis,” said the UNMISS Chief.

Ms. Loej said the mission would continue to cooperate with the state administration in efforts to realize peace.

“As a representative of the Mission and the humanitarian agencies in United Nations, we will be very happy to continue fruitful cooperation with State administration in order to achieve that common goal, (so) that the citizens in Malakal can live in peace and security to carry on their daily duties,“ she said.

A press release issued by the mission noted that the visit featured a walking tour of the devastated center of the Upper Nile state capital, which has changed hands six times since the current conflict in South Sudan erupted in December 2013.

The SRSG said she was “appalled” by the extent of the damage inflicted on the main market and teaching hospital of Malakal.

The release added that during the meeting with the Deputy Governor and state ministers, SRSG Loej and Ambassador Twining discussed reports of continuing recruitment of child soldiers in the state and other issues of concern.

“I expressed my grave concerns about the forcible recruitment of boys recently at the Wau Shilluk village near Malakal and elsewhere in Upper Nile State,” said Ms. Loej. “I stressed the importance of holding accountable all those who engage in this unacceptable practice, and I shared with the Deputy Governor the assurances given by President Salva Kiir Mayardit to me last month that the boys would be rescued.”

The SRSG also addressed the proposed establishment of a forward operating base in Malakal Town manned by UNMISS peacekeepers to promote a more secure and safe environment for internally displaced persons (IDPs) wishing to return to their homes on a voluntary basis, the statement added.

Ms. Loej and Ambassador Twining were briefed on security and humanitarian conditions in the state by UNMISS State Coordinator Deborah Schein, representatives of UN agencies and Brig. Gen. Bayarsaikhan Dashdondog, the Mongolian commander of UNMISS peacekeepers in Sector North which encompasses Upper Nile and Unity states and northern Jonglei state.

The SRSG and the U.S. envoy also visited the UNMISS protection-of-civilians site and met with community leaders of the IDP population.

They were also briefed on the progress of ongoing construction work to expand the area of the existing protection site before the onset of the rainy season later this year.

10 March 2015 - Two new classrooms handed-over by UNMISS to the Warrap State government were a major breakthrough in increasing the state’s learning spaces, a senior state official said in the state capital Kuajok recently.

Adriano Kiir Ayuel, the Director General of the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, made the remarks during a commissioning exercise of two classrooms built by the mission under its Quick Impacts Projects.

“This greatly relieves the government and people of Warrap State from the burden of lack of learning space,” Mr. Ayuel noted during a ceremony held in Mayen Gumel Community.

The two-classroom structure at Kuajok Academy Secondary School is valued at $50,000 and was implemented by The Organization for Children harmony (TOCH).

According to TOCH, constructing the additional two classrooms would help raise intake to 200 students.

“Kuajok City presently has two secondary schools to accommodate students who (complete) primary (school),” he said. “This school will assist in accommodating these students. This further relieves us of the challenge that 50 per cent of learning spaces are under trees.”

The Director General said the goodwill gesture from UNMISS and other partners who construct schools and promote peace in the country would be useless unless the South Sudanese people made use of the facilities.

Kuajok Municipality City Mayor, Ajiek Ajiek, urged the people of Kuajok and Warrap State to contribute to developing the state by joining hands and building their capacity through education.

“I went to school under trees (then) I travelled to East Africa and the USA,” he said. “Now, I am back to contribute my quota to develop and build my state. I will do this because of the education I acquired.”

UNMISS Acting State Coordinator Isaac Lappia stressed that the future of South Sudan lies in developing the youth, especially through education for the girl-child.

“Invest in your children by sending them to school instead of marrying them (off) for immediate benefit,” he said. “Once these (children) are educationally empowered, the country will flourish.”

Highlights

• The multiple crises in Sudan show no sign of abating, with children continuing to bear the brunt of one of the worst children’s emergencies in the world today. 3.24 million children in Sudan are targeted for humanitarian assistance by the Strategic Response Plan.

• The recent outbreak of measles reported by UNICEF, WHO and the Ministry of Health is of great concern. So far 710 cases have been confirmed in twelve states countrywide. UNICEF is supporting MoH with existing stocks and is urgently exploring ways to procure and fund needed vaccines to respond to this crisis.

• As of February 2015, 152 unaccompanied and separated children have been reunited with their families in North Darfur, this constitutes 96 per cent of all cases identified in the state.

• UNICEF efforts have enabled 26,161 displaced and conflict-affected grade 8 students to sit their exams in East, West, Central and North Darfur states as well as in White Nile State.

• To prevent the transmission of vector-borne diseases (such as malaria and dengue fever) in conflict affected communities, a mass distribution of 438,267 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets has been conducted in North Darfur.

• 7,785 children have been treated for severe acute malnutrition through 818 treatment centres.

• The UNICEF Sudan humanitarian appeal for 2015 is 92% unfunded.

SITUATION IN NUMBERS

5.4 million (3.24 million children)
Number of people targeted by SRP
Source: SRP 2015. UNICEF estimates 60% are children.

2.5 million (1.5 million children)
Number of displaced people in Darfur
Source: OCHA – Humanitarian Bulletin Sudan Issue 05 | 26 January - 01 February 2015. 60% of displaced are children

121,749 (85,244 children)
Number of South Sudanese refugees since outbreak of conflict on 15 December 2013
Source: UNHCR Information Sharing Portal, 29 Jan 2015. 66% of refugees from South Sudan are children, this increases to 70% for those living in the camps

$116,921,577 (USD)
Total funding requirement in 2014
$9,452,463 – Funded in 2015
$107,469,114 – Unfunded in 2015

2015 Funding Gap
92%

Priories for 2015

In 2015, the focus of Education in Emergencies (EiE) interventions remains on saving lives, protection and resilience building of displaced children, teachers, families and their affected host communities. Education in emergencies assistance will be provided to over 894,000 children living in 65 highly vulnerable areas identified in the HNO prioritization exercise. Emergency coverage will be improved for IDPs and affected host communities by providing access to essential psychosocial interventions, life-skills, health and hygiene, nutrition, peace education, protection and learning and recreational opportunities. 2014 was an extremely challenging year for the provision of humanitarian assistance due to massive displacements in Darfur that stretched education facilities with unexpectedly large enrolment numbers. Considering the huge space gap in learning spaces, more investment will be made in construction and re-habilitation of classrooms and the provision of gender-sensttive water and sanitation facilities.

9 March 2015 - South Sudan today joined the rest of the world to commemorate International Women’s Day with a variety of activities in the country’s ten states.

About 100 women from across the Gogrial West County in Warrap State attended a roundtable discussion organized by UNMISS as part of activities to observe the day in the state.

During the discussion, aimed at highlighting challenges women face at the grassroots, participants said sexual and gender-based violence could only be stamped out of the state and country if women were involved in every fabric of the justice system.

The state’s outgoing Women Union Chairperson, Rose Acindhel, said women’s involvement in traditional leadership is essential for women’s protection.

Noting paramount chieftaincy as some of positions women need to head, Ms. Acindhel explained that having women in these positions would assist in ensuring that vulnerable women and victims of heinous sexual crimes are able to speak out.

“Women are not free to express themselves before men on these sensitive issues,” she said. “Male traditional judges also inflict wounds on the very affected women whilst in their custody… The current traditional court system is a recipe for rape and other forms of gender based violence.”

In the Upper Nile State capital Malakal, UNMISS organized a panel discussion with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) seeking shelter at the protection site on the mission’s base.

Speaking during the discussion, UNMISS State Coordinator Deborah Schein said when women come together, they can draw from each other’s strength.

“Unity is strength,” she said. “We will only achieve our goals if we unite and gather our strength. This is the best way to move forward.”

Participants focused on issues like gender-based violence, early marriage, girls’ rights to education, participation of women in the ongoing peace process and more presence of women in leadership roles.

Women from other countries who experienced war also gave their testimonies and shared with the IDPs how women united themselves to fight for their rights.

Participants also said there is need for traditional leaders to revisit some of the practices that discriminate against and suppress women.

“Discrimination and suppression of women and girls starts (at) the family level,” said Mary Gordon Otoh. “Boys are registered for school while girls are left at home to do house work and later become housewives… We should change this.”

Still in Upper Nile State, UNMISS, the Danish Refugee Council and the UN Refugee agency organized another event at the Dethoma refugee camp in Melut County.

“You are the solid ground on which the unity of this nation stands,” said by Melut County Commissioner Dau Guoch Ayuel. “Enjoy your day through spreading the word of peace and reconciliation to our community who hardly affected by this ongoing crisis.”

State Gender and Social Welfare Advisor Elizabeth Abuk commended women for their care and their effective roles in the community and called for more opportunities for education for girls.

Daniel Deng Kiir, Dethoma Refugee Camp chairman also appreciated the role of women in peace and reconciliation processes especially in protection sites.

“Women’s, on many occasions, have shown us leadership especially in the matters related to quelling down the disputes among different communities … in South Sudan,” he said.

Events in the Unity State capital Bentiu were aimed at raising awareness of how women’s rights can be violated during conflict.

The day was marked with a workshop for women, awareness events for students and Catholic Church congregation, as well as marching through the UNMISS protection sites with messages highlighting the rights of women.

“Women should not close their eyes to abuses and violations of their rights,” said UNMISS Human Rights Officer Samuel Mutungi.

In Jonglei State, UNMISS organized celebrations at the Freedom Square in the state capital Bor, attended by women from all walks of life.

Acting State Governor Ustaz Baba Medan and UNMISS State Coordinator Hazel de Wet presented a certificate from the mission to the State Minister for Parliament, Susan Lith Aluong, in recognition of her role in empowering women and girls in the state.

“To be a great leader and ruler, there must be a great and wonderful woman behind you because without the women, nothing can be achieved,” said Mr. Medan.

He called upon women to promote peace and stability in the state and the country, adding that women are homemakers and good homes breed good states and countries.

A joint UNMISS team also held events in three schools in Bor and held discussions with nearly 2000 students on issues like girl-child education, roles in schools and homes as well as the UNMISS mandate.

The main ceremony in the Northern Bahr El-Ghazal capital Aweil, included presentation of certificates of recognition to 10 women leaders in the state for their role in promoting peace, social development and peaceful coexistence.

The State Minister of Social Development, Ajak Michael Akok, commended UNMISS and other partners for organizing and recognizing the role played by women in the state affairs.

“A woman is a great human (who) does multiple tasks (as a) mother and grandmother, sister (and) cousin,” she said. "She is the head of the house and … a leader in her community as well as the country. We must work hard to achieve a social development of the women in our state.”

UNMISS State Coordinator Koliab Nahataba noted that women continued to bear the brunt of the conflict in South Sudan.

“We have to re-rededicate our efforts in not only recognizing these women, but moving forward with an agenda of bringing perpetrators to book (as well putting in place) resources that will meaningfully change the lives of women in South Sudan,” he said.

Western Bahr El Ghazal State organized a colourful event in Nyinakok town of Jur River County with several activities including drama on women’s right to education and an exhibition of hand-made crafts made by women from the county.

“Women have a (big role) to play in accelerating the peace and development of the country,” said Deputy State Governor Brig. Gen. Zakaria Joseph, who also reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting and protecting women’s rights.

6 March 2015 - To strengthen the capacity of human rights defenders, UNMISS completed a three-day workshop today in Nyamlel of Aweil West County in Northern Bahr El-Ghazal State.

The activity, which drew 28 participants from county civil society and community based organizations, focused on basic human rights, customary law compared to statutory law and the bill of rights in South Sudan’s transitional constitution.

Several participants said they were unaware of various human rights or their violation.

“I did not know before that education, food, healthcare, play and freedom from harm are the fundamental rights of the child,” said participant Dominic Garang Deng. “But from today onward I will not violate human rights.”

Another participant, Akuno Dut, said many human rights violations were occurring in the community, but people failed to realize this due to lack of knowledge.

“I have now understood that murder, theft, adultery and harmful beating of the wife and child are crimes that can be reported to the police and public prosecutor … (and) can be dealt with by the county court (statutory court), not a traditional court,” she said.

In closing remarks, participant representative Peter Ghop Khoyom, of Women Empowerment and Care Organization (WECO), said people who perceived human rights as principles “imported” from outside were wrong.

“Human rights are fundamental rights that are inherited from the day of birth,” Mr. Khoyom said. “Each and every human being must enjoy his/her rights without prejudice.”

He urged UNMISS to organize more workshops to include community leaders and law enforcement agencies, so they could gain knowledge on basic human rights principles as well as jurisdictions of customary and statutory laws.”

UNMISS State Coordinator Koliab Nahataba urged participants to deliver what they had learned to the grassroots level.

“Now is the beginning of your journey to create an environment that is conducive to the life of your communities,” he said. Your work after this training should not be something against the community norms, traditions, cultures and laws. From today we are starting to turn the light on.”

Acting County Commissioner Josepgh Akuei said UNMISS had filled a gap in knowledge about human rights and laws. “Go and give this knowledge to others. You are now agents of change in your respective communities.”

The three-day workshop also included discussions and presentations on the UNMISS mandate and protection of vulnerable groups as well as children’s and women’s rights.

1. Executive Summary

Risk management is one of the essential components of accountability for Country Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs), as most recently emphasised in OCHA’s updated global guidelines and the accompanying policy instruction. This document sets out the Risk Management Framework (RMF) for the South Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF). Although important elements of risk management have long existed in the South Sudan CHF, this is the first time that an overarching RMF has been developed and documented. As such the analysis and practical approaches remain work in progress and will be further refined through periodic updates and revisions.

A participatory approach was used to formulate RMF, including three rounds of public stakeholder consultation, discussions at different meetings of the CHF Advisory Board (CHF AB), consultation with the Funding Coordination Section (FCS) at OCHA headquarters, and other research carried out by the CHF Technical Secretariat. Of particular note is the input provided by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) – a key supporter of the South Sudan CHF.

The South Sudan CHF is presently the largest anywhere, having allocated some $393m since its inception in 2012. Of this $193m has been allocated since the onset of a major crisis in December 2013, characterised by conflict and displacement and which continues to affect the country. The analysis to develop the RMF starts from the objectives of the CHF as set out in its foundational documents and which may be summarised as: meeting prioritised humanitarian needs; strengthening the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator; and strengthening the collective humanitarian response planning process.

Key risks associated with the attainment of these objectives have been placed under six categories, namely: strategic and programmatic risks; governance and management risks; financial risks; internal risks; coordination and partnership risks; and hazard risks. From a comparative analysis of the likelihood and potential impact of 17 risk areas identified, risks associated with monitoring and reporting arrangements and with potential misappropriation are considered as the two of most concern.
A work plan is set out to strengthen the management of all identified risks. In a number of cases work is ongoing, while in other cases additional actions are proposed. The RMF shall be regularly reviewed and updated, monitoring progress against planned actions and refreshing the analysis of the risk environment.

SUMMARY:

This matrix is prepared and published monthly, representing what happened in various sectors in the particular reference month. This indicators matrix is a step towards showing a comprehensive picture of the current situation in Gambella region and establishing a basis for initial trend and gap analysis.

In South Sudan, the conflict that started on 15 December 2013, and which has left thousands dead and more than a million displaced, has yet to come to an end. To date, there have been limited efforts aimed at national peace, justice, healing and reconciliation, and huge challenges remain in achieving the dream of a ‘united South Sudan’.

The recent collapse of peace talks in Addis Ababa says it all. President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar have crushed the people’s hopes by refusing to make the compromises needed for peace.

A possible solution would have been for the government to commit to its call for elections, which have now been postponed.

However, amid the current political climate, elections could make matters worse. It is high time that the country embarks on a nationwide dialogue with its people to decide on the way forward and save the state from total collapse. South Sudan has a history of war, which could complicate the effects of the newly announced United Nations sanction regime. The First Sudanese Civil War (also known as Anyanya 1), between the northern part of the country and southern Sudan, lasted from 1955 to 1972. Half a million people died over the 17 years of war. Sudan’s independence in 1956 was heavily overshadowed by unresolved tensions between the north and south, while South Sudan’s independence in 2011 left its population more divided than before.

The overarching principle behind the crisis is poor governance The agreement that ended the civil war in 1972, just like current peace agreements, failed to dissolve the tensions that had originally caused the conflict. This led to a second Sudanese civil war, which lasted from 1983 to 2005. The period between 1955 and 2005 is sometimes considered to be a single conflict, with an 11-year ceasefire separating two violent phases. After the Comprehensive Peace agreement (CPA) in 2005, there was a remarkable period of peace between the north and south, but tension continued to escalate among southerners. Today, South Sudan is at war with itself.

In January 2015, the government of South Sudan called for an election to be held later this year. ‘If there are people wanting to participate in the elections, they are welcomed – but we will not accept the democracy to be held hostage because others are not ready,’ Kiir said at the time. The transitional constitution states that the tenure of the Office of the President shall be four years, starting from 9 July 2011, and the presidential term was therefore to expire in July.

On 13 February, however, the country’s council of ministers decided to postpone the general elections and extended the tenure of the Office of the President by two years, to 2017. With the seeming failure of the peace talks hosted by the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), and the rescheduling of the elections, the situation in South Sudan could only get worse.

The current constitution was prepared hurriedly and has outlived its purpose Even if general elections had taken place on 30 June as originally planned, this could have triggered another wave of violence as peace, justice and reconciliation were being ignored. Voting would have been problematic in various parts of the country, and the credibility of the elections would have been open to question.

The country is still without a permanent constitution that is ‘owned by the people’. The current constitution was prepared hurriedly to usher in the independent state, and has outlived its purpose.

A permanent constitution would be the only answer to the current governance dilemma. Inter-ethnic warfare, which in some cases predates the war of independence, continues to be widespread. Despite many theories on the current crisis, the overarching principle behind it is poor governance.

The government should note that political legitimacy is something that is conferred by the people of a country when there is faith that the government's actions are an appropriate use of power, by a legally constituted governmental authority, and following correct decisions on making policies. An election is therefore a means, but not an end, to achieving this. In all democracies, the governed have a right to choose to consent; and holding an election on one side of the political divide due to insecurity and fear would only intensify a lack of legitimacy, and bring forth further divisions and tension.

The current Sudan People’s Liberation Movement government was elected in April 2010 as part of the Sudanese general elections. This was long before referendum, independence and the country’s transitional constitution. It will therefore be unjustifiable for the current regime to call for an election, whenever this might happen, using a constitution that is not people owned.

The government, with help of IGAD and international community, should sit with all political parties, civil society and other stakeholders to decide on the way forward for the nation. Dialogue is critical at this point in time, and the peace talks plus other reconciliatory efforts should focus on creating a firm foundation for the South Sudan state. This could be achieved through prioritising peace and reconciliation and ensuring a new constitution is in place.

Sebastian Gatimu, Researcher, Governance, Crime and Justice Division, ISS Nairobi

The Logistics Cluster is responsible for providing logistics coordination, information management; and, where there is a gap in logistics infrastructure, it acts as a ‘Provider of Last Resort’ by offering common logistics services to support the humanitarian community in their response operations.

Highlights of the Operation

• As South Sudan is well into the dry season, many roads are now open and physically passable. Locations that can now be accessed by road are no longer serviced by air. These locations include Bentiu, Bor, Duk, Gumuruk, Panyagor, Pibor and Yida. However, many locations are still only accessible by air.

• The Logistics Cluster barge bound to Malakal/Melut was dispatched from Juba in January. The remaining cargo will be loaded from Bor. In total, 1600 mt of humanitarian supplies will be dispatched on behalf of ten different organisations. The estimated time of arrival in Malakal is the end of March.

• Facilitation of the common storage facility in Bentiu is currently underway. Once finalised, humanitarian organisations will have access to increased levels of storage space.

This map illustrates satellite-detected shelters and other buildings at the Minkaman IDP site in Lake State, South Sudan, as seen by WorldView-1 satellite on 8 February and 12 February 2015. UNOSAT analyzed these images and located 12,349 shelters and 611 administrative buildings in the IDP site area. A previous UNOSAT analysis using an image from 24 November 2014 indicated 18,636 IDPs shelters, and thus the updated analysis represents a decrease of approximatively 33% in the number of shelters. Note that IDPs sheltering under trees are not detected by this analysis. This is a preliminary analysis and has not yet been validated in the field. Please send ground feedback to UNITAR / UNOSAT.

This IRNA Report is a product of Inter-Agency Assessment mission conducted and information compiled based on the inputs provided by partners on the ground including; government authorities, affected communities/IDPs and agencies.

Situation overview

The assessment team travelled by road from Bor town to Jalle Payam, Bor South County on 10 February 2015. The assessment was conducted the same day in Jalle Payam located north of Bor town (GPS N: 06˚ 40’ 11.51’’, N: 31˚28’ 34’’). The payam has a total of five payams with the population of 13.506 people as per 2008 census report, which is 7 % of the total population of the County (Bor South).

The objectives of the assessment was to (i) provide an immediate and quick overview of the emergency situation in the area. (ii) to assess and determine the needs of the claimed community and estimâtes their number. (iii)Make initial rough estimates of the needs of the affected population and define the priorities for humanitarian action and; (iv) To identify aspects for which more detailed follow-on assessments, including cluster specific assessments, would be needed.

On the ground the team met with boma chiefs of the affected areas, community leaders, représentatives from teachers, community health workers and représentatives from women, girls and youth groups. During the interviews it was noted that the community vividly recall the December 2013 violence which caused them to flee to the nearby islands and Mingkaman. 60 percent of the original population are reported to have returned in February and March of 2014, while the rest are still in Mingkaman. However, in the interview conducted with chiefs and community leaders it was informed that on the 1st February 2015 around 7.00 pm two bomas (Jalle and Majak) in Jalle payam was attacked by the armed group allege to be Murle tribe.It estimated that 3619 individuals (517HHs) was affected. 72 houses and 165 cows were burnt. Six people were killed and three wounded.The community was displaced for one day and returned back in the second day.

The community leaders informed the team that 70% of the affected population are female headed households. The community are in need of food, shelter and security. The government has provided 7.5 mts of maize flour and 1.75 mts of beans on 9th February 2015, and deployed SPLA in the village to provide security. SPLA soldiers have occupied the school and children are not attending school. WFP has continued to provide monthly food ration to food insecure households in the payam. For the month of February WFP distributed General Food Distribution (GFD) to 1567 people and blanket supplementary feeding to 1083 children under five. ICRC/RC has provided NFIs to 300 HHs,(58% of the affected households). The NFIs distributed were water containers, soaps, blankets, plastics sheets, clothes, mosquito nets and fishing nets.

11 March 2015 - UNMISS and partners recently started supporting displaced children living at the mission’s protection site in the Upper Nile state capital Malakal to sit examinations at centres outside the base.

The week-long primary leaving examinations, which kicked off on 9 March in 21 centres in stable counties, are the first to be conducted in the state since conflict erupted in December 2013.

To help displaced children have a chance to sit their examinations, UNICEF and non-governmental organization INTERSOS are providing transportation for pupils from and back to the protection site, while UNMISS peacekeepers provide protection at the examination centre.

Acting State Governor Gwinye Philip Chan said the state government had made every possible effort to ensure that children could sit examinations this year.

He urged pupils to put a lot of effort in order to achieve their ambition.

“We also call upon the families to support them in creating a conducive environment for their children to take their exam in good atmosphere,” he said.