The 27th ordinary summit of the African Union (AU) in Kigali this week ended – as AU summits often do – with a burst of optimism that the secret to resolving yet another intractable continental conflict had been discovered.

The conflict this time was South Sudan, and the silver bullet would be a robust ‘force intervention brigade’ to operate within the existing United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, UNMISS.

South Sudan had once again forced itself to the top of the summit agenda because of the violent breach earlier this month of the August 2015 ceasefire and peace agreement.

The forces of President Salva Kiir and his arch-rival, Vice President Riek Machar, had once again started shooting each other. About 300 people died before the two leaders imposed a precarious new ceasefire. AU Peace and Security Commissioner Smaïl Chergui explained at a press conference after the summit ended on Monday, that AU leaders had decided that the AU really had to be ‘on the side of the people’ and so a quick solution was needed to get the peace process back on track and start dispensing humanitarian aid.

The leaders had then adopted a proposal from East Africa’s Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), that an African force should be inserted into UNMISS.

Although it is to be called a Regional Protection Force, Chergui said it would be very like the Force Intervention Brigade which is technically part of Monusco – the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – but with a tougher mandate, enabling it to enforce rather than just keep the peace.

Chergui said the UN Security Council would be meeting within days to decide whether to accept this proposal. ‘When it comes to generating the forces, we are ready for that. That is our responsibility,’ Chergui said, adding that the AU summit had decided on a similar force to intervene in northern Mali. ‘The UN doesn’t have the mandate to impose peace. They are there only when there is a peace to keep. The added value of African forces is that they are ready to engage in very difficult situations, often without the necessary equipment or personnel. But we are ready to do it, because it’s our responsibility.’

These were worthy sentiments and there is no doubt that African forces are performing valiantly. Chergui noted that the troops in AMISOM, the AU mission helping Somalia fight the violent al-Shabaab jihadists, have not suffered a significant loss of morale, despite just taking a 20% pay cut.

But can the proposed new force really end the chronic violence and killing in South Sudan? The most immediate contrast with the DRC protection force is that DRC President Joseph Kabila was willing – indeed eager – for it to intervene because its mandate was mainly to go after his enemies.

Whereas, as Dr Nelson Alusala, a consultant at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) points out, Kiir is dead against a forceful AU intervention. Some of the regional allies of both Kiir and Machar are also regarded as lukewarm to the proposed force, others say.

So will the AU march into Juba regardless of Kiir’s wishes, Chergui was asked at his press conference. He suggested not, saying: ‘We are working over the next few days to convince President Kiir to accept this force.’

Alusala draws a pertinent and worrying parallel with Maprobu, the proposed 5 000-strong AU force which the AU Peace and Security Council decided last December to send into Burundi. President Pierre Nkurunziza was firmly opposed to it, saying he would regard it as an invasion force. As a result, at the subsequent AU summit in Addis Ababa in January, the leaders backed right off Maprobu.

It could certainly be argued though that Maprobu was different because it would have been an entirely AU force, whereas the proposed South Sudan force will be part of the UN mission, UNMISS. And UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was at the Kigali summit when the protection force proposal was adopted, lending credibility.

It could also be argued that the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan is far greater than that in Burundi and so the pressure on the South Sudanese themselves and their regional allies to allow in a force is much greater. But Alusala remains sceptical, still doubting if the AU will send a robust force into South Sudan when it failed to do so in Burundi.

‘We are likely to see a prolonged conflict in South Sudan because of the divisions in IGAD,’ says Alusala, referring to the pro-Kiir and pro-Machar regional split relating to the deployment of a regional force.

And so, rather than leaving it to the region, ‘the AU itself may have to take charge’, he added. Alusala suggests the AU should learn a lesson from Burundi, which it left to the East African Community to resolve, with notable lack of success so far.

He also draws an analogy between South Sudan and Mozambique, suggesting that Machar is in a sense like Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama, calling for external help in resolving his conflict with Frelimo. While Kiir is like Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi, insisting the problem can be resolved internally. (Although it must be added that Nyusi did recently budge and invited foreign mediators.)

Alusala believes these two countries are just the latest examples of a template common to many countries. Which figures. Why would the incumbent want to change the status quo?

One hopes that when it comes to analogies, Machar does not turn out to be more like Jonas Savimbi than Dhlakama. At least from the perspective of Machar’s SPLM-in Opposition, the cause of this month’s flare-up was that Kiir’s soldiers attacked their leader’s home with the intention of eliminating him. Machar has not been heard from for many days, some observers say.

Peter Fabricius, ISS Consultant

Highlights during the reporting week

• Five neonatal deaths reported from three counties
  
• Four suspected yellow fever cases reported from two counties including one death.
  
• Six suspected cases of measles reported from four counties
  
• 21 cases of pertussis reported from Grand Bassa county

Highlights

14,960
Identified unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children
86
Households provided with cash grants since 1st January2015
1,288,598
NFIs distributed since January 2015
2,931
Shelters distributed since January 2015

Population of Concern
Total of people of concern 562,357

Funding
USD 226,880,884 requested

HIGHLIGHTS

• UNHCR Chief Filippo Grandi visited Nairobi Office and Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps for the first time as the High Commissioner for refugees. He met with refugees, host community representatives, government officials, UNHCR staff and partners.

• The Tripartite Technical Committee met in Nairobi on June 25 and came up with the joint communiqué for voluntary return and sustainable repatriation of Somali refugees http://bit.ly/28VOfDF

• In June, UNHCR inactivated refugees and asylum seekers who have not collected food rations or accessed other protection assistance in Kakuma for a long period of time, as it may be assumed that they are no longer present in the camps. As a result, the statistics for the Kakuma Refugee Camp population has decreased from 192,218 as at the end of May 2016, to the current figure of 156,923 at the end of June 2016. UNHCR will carry out a verification exercise in the near future to confirm the population of the camp and will report the updated figures as soon as possible.

• On 14th June, UNHCR and partners organized a Market day in Dadaab as part of World Refugee Day commemoration themed “self-reliance/livelihoods, including the integration and enhancement of the economies of refugees and host communities”.

• World Refugee Day, 20th June was marked in Dadaab, Kakuma and Nairobi jointly with refugees, Government representatives, host community, donors, partner agencies and UNHCR Staff.

• On 16th June, the Day of the African Child was celebrated in the Dadaab, Kakuma and Nairobi.

• ECHO mission visited Kakuma to check on the ECHO funded projects. The mission visited the Kalobeyei Settlement site and observed the relocation exercise at the reception centre, Bamba Chakula traders and met with partners.

• A support mission from UNHCR Headquarters supported the roll-out of the Global Distribution Tool (GDT) process that is to be piloted in Kakuma in July Food distribution at Food Distribution Centre 4.

• UNHCR continued to conduct border monitoring visits to Nadapal along the Kenya-South Sudan border.

• Kenya National Commission of Human Rights, alongside Kituo cha Sheria and Amnesty International, have challenged the Government’s directive which disbanded the Department of Refugee Affairs and the government’s intention to close Dadaab Refugee camp. The case has also challenged the revocation of prima facie status for Somali refugees vide Gazette Notice 3017 of 2016.

• Protection Delivery Unit facilitated travel to Geneva for four refugee youth to participate in the NGO annual Global Refugee Youth Consultations.

The civil population, stuck in a noose of internal political rivalry, is once more the victim of violence, looting, assassinations, with many displaced. In Juba, fighting has resumed since 8 July between the two rival sides and the body count has reached the hundreds, with thousands more having to flee. The camps run by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Protection of Civilians sites that house some 28,000 people were not spared and are actually being targeted by heavy shelling on 10 July.

In December 2013, two and a half years after declaring independence, a first outbreak of violence led to a civil war that lasted 30 months, claimed thousands of lives and uprooted 1.4 million people by September 2014. The peace agreement signed in August 2015 in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and the new national unity government did not manage to bring back stability. On the fifth anniversary of its independence, in a context of violence and bloody fighting, the spectre of a civil war is looming again.

Confronted with the altercations that resumed on 8 July 2016 and that jeopardise our humanitarian teams’ interventions, Solidarités International is calling upon the present stakeholders and the international community to put an end to the fighting, to ensure human lives and humanitarian access are respected.

21 July 2016 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today signed a new partnership agreement with the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) that will further strengthen the collaboration between the two organizations in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

“The Members of Parliament are the ones who really listen to the real voices from the people on the ground and they represent the wishes and views and aspirations of the people,” Mr. Ban said at a press encounter at the signing of the agreement.

“Let’s work [closely] together […] to meet the expectations and aspirations of the people,” said Mr. Ban citing what he referred to as the 5-Ps – people, planet, peace, prosperity and partnership.

In further remarks, the Secretary-General also spoke on the crisis in South Sudan.

Mr. Ban recently travelled to the Rwandan capital Kigali, where he met with several African leaders from International Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). In discussions on the South Sudan crisis, IGAD leaders recommended strengthening the mandate and capacity of the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS).

IGAD is an eight-country trade bloc in Africa comprising Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda.

Today, Mr. Ban said that although the actual violence in South Sudan might have stopped for the time being, the threat of reoccurrence remains.

“We have to make sure that there is continuing cessation of the violence,” he said, expecting and urging the leaders of South Sudan to, “sit down together and make a firm commitment that they will work as one team, the President and the First Vice-President.”

Mr. Ban also voiced serious concerns about sexual violence against women and girls as well as at attacks on UN humanitarian facilities and the looting of a UN World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse by the SPLA (Sudan People’s Liberation Army). The warehouse contained humanitarian food assistance for some 220,000 people.

“This is totally unacceptable,” he emphasized and called for the perpetrators to be held accountable.

The Secretary General also thanked UNMISS peacekeepers, UN staff, humanitarian workers, non-governmental organizations, and media for continuing their work under very difficult and dangerous circumstances.

July 21, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan government has unveiled two alternative as options to address armed confrontation between the rival forces in the country, arguing that the proposed deployment of foreign troops to back up the fighting and protection capacity of the United Nations mission in South Sudan will not resolve the volatile situation.

Nhial Deng Nhial, an advisor to President Salva Kiir, who led a high level government delegation to the African Union summit in Kigali, Rwanda, likened the deployment of troops from the region to “trying to crack a nut with a sledgehammer”.

Nhial, accompanied by foreign minister, Deng Alor Kuol, led a government delegation that represented South Sudan in Kigali.

“The position of the government is very clear. We believe that there are ways in which this problem can be addressed without the need to resort to such a drastic action. We proposed that President Salva Kiir be allowed to provide protection to Dr Riek Machar and all SPLM-IO leaders”, Nhial told the state-owned SSBC Television Thursday.

“The other option is for the region to modify the current mandate of UNMISS peacekeepers to include a special unit of protection for the First Vice President”, he added.

The official further argued that the approval of regional troops as agreed by the regional bloc (IGAD) and the African Union heads of states will not resolve confrontations between the main rival factions.

DIRECT TALKS

Last week, Kiir called for direct talks with first vice-president, Riek Machar, saying he detests further bloodshed in the young nation.

President Kiir said he and the ex-rebel leader should salvage peace.

"I don’t want any more bloodshed in South Sudan," stated the South Sudanese leader.

"I have been ready to resume talks on the issues we were discussing before this thing [violence] erupted. We were left with few things to conclude the discussions so that we begin with the implementation [the August 2015 peace agreement]", he added.

The president was speaking for the first time since his forces clashed with those loyal to Machar last week, leaving more than 270 soldiers from the two sides dead, South Sudanese officials confirmed.

President Kiir also vowed he would provide protection to Machar and his forces, citing the amnesty he had issued after declaring ceasefire as a guarantee for the security of his deputy and his forces.

"Nobody is hunting for him and his forces. If he comes, I will protect him. He will stay with me if feels he is not safe staying alone", he said.

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT?

Meanwhile, Machar claimed the fighting that erupted between his bodyguards and Kiir’s forces in the capital was calculated to kill him.

He said he feared for his own life after the incident, adding he was also worried about the safety of his ministers currently inside Juba.

“We have a pending meeting, he as president and me as vice president. And also if it were a normal situation, we would meet, but the incident that took place on the 8th [July] in the State House is a very despicable incident, where there was a shootout, and a dog fight, when we were in a meeting,” Machar told BBC Focus on Africa program.

“To me that was a calculated plan to kill me,” he added.

Machar, who also leads an opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, said he was willing to return back to Juba, but after a third force is deployed in Juba to take charge, ensure safety and no return to violent confrontations.

(ST)

Khartoum, July.21 (SUNA) - The Humanitarian Aid Commissioner General, Ahmed Mohammed Adam has disclosed that the humanitarian in Sudan includes deep issues of displacement, reintegration , repatriation of the internally displaced people and other files that needs that need solutions , especially, the country is currently witnesses new influxes from the State of South Sudan following the recent incidents in that country.

The Commissioner ,speaking at press conference held, Thursday, at Taiba Press Hall, marking the National Volunteer Day, said the Sudan expects more influxes of refugees into its territories from South Sudan.

He there are 96 foreign organization registered in the commission besides 52 voluntary organization network but the country cannot accommodate these huge influxes of the displaced.

'Its our right, in the United Nations, to ask for help'. he said.

He called for supporting partnership relations with the humanitarian aid partners in humanitarian and youth organizations to back up voluntary work in Sudan.

He commended the support being extended by the Kuwaiti and Qatari humanitarian organizations in the fields of education and provision of water.

IF/IF

By Tim Irwin

Children who experienced violent clashes in Juba, South Sudan earlier this month are anxious and afraid. Many require psychological support to help reduce the risk of further distress and disruptions to their well-being.

JUBA, South Sudan, 21 July 2016 – In the battle-scarred capital of South Sudan, children who should be playing are instead worrying about the future and asking when it will be safe to go home again.

Two weeks after heavy fighting erupted in Juba, thousands remain displaced. And though a ceasefire has held since 11 July, many are afraid the conflict could resume.

Statement on the violence in South Sudan, 9 July 2016

“They’re not themselves,” says Lisette Suarez, a psychologist at Confident Children out of Conflict, a UNICEF partner that provides support and shelter to vulnerable children. “It’s hard to get them to concentrate. They keep asking if the fighting is going to start again.”

The organization is normally home to nearly 50 children, but another 15 arrived during the worst of the fighting this month. The children were seeking safety after losing track of their parents when their families fled their homes.

“We tried to keep everyone calm. We prayed, we played some cartoons for them. We tried to make life here as normal as possible, but the children would ask if the soldiers were coming after them,” says Tinate Zebedayo, the group’s acting director.

“Our first priority is to find and reunite children who are separated from their families because of the fighting,” says Anthony Nolan, a UNICEF child protection specialist. “But we also have to provide long-term psychological support so that children can recover from these traumatic events. Children should be playing football, not dodging bullets and mortars.”

Watch: Family reunification in South Sudan

At the nearby St. Joseph’s school, dozens of orphans and their carers continue to sleep in empty classrooms, too frightened to return. Some of the most intense battles took place near their children’s centre, and children and staff walked for hours, some barefoot, to reach the church complex where the school sits.

UNICEF volunteers have turned classrooms into play areas with toys and games for children. The younger children race about, tossing balls and bumping into one another. The older children are more thoughtful. Noor Angelo, 13, says he would rather stay at the school than return home. “That place is dangerous now,” he says. “Here is better.”

UNICEF and partners have registered more than 13,000 children who have been separated from their families since the conflict began in South Sudan. 4,137 have been reunited with their families. Family tracing efforts are underway for those who are still alone or being cared for by neighbours or relatives.

Learn more about the humanitarian needs of families in South Sudan

In coordination with the Inter-Cluster Working Group, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster continues to advocate for non-creation of new camp-like settings in Juba. Humanitarian interventions should be aimed at providing temporary emergency assistance that will not serve as a pull factor for IDPs to remain in the sites.

OCHA reports that 15,061 people remain displaced by the insecurity in Juba. Of these, 10,838 people are sheltering in the UN Tong Ping and UN House bases. An estimated 4,223 IDPs are staying in three collective centres. Twelve sites where displaced people were staying are now closed as the people have gone home.

UNMISS TONGPING

CCCM
· Estimated population figure: 4,000
· IOM continues registration of IDPs who already have a plot at UN house.

Shelter and NFI
· IOM distributed 1,064 plastic sheets (one per HH or group of people living together).
· Site improvements, including preparation of the land with grading and additional marram, are ongoing
· IOM has pre-positioned shelter material on site to enable shelter construction to begin on 21 July.

WASH
· 60,000 litres (15L/person/day) of safe drinking water was delivered.
· Improvement of the drainage for one water point and increasing the number of taps at all the water points is planned for 21 July.
· IDPs have access to 35 functional latrines, at a rate of 111 people per latrine.
· 40 latrines are ongoing construction, for which two trenches of stances were excavated by UNICEF.
· 20 hygiene promoters will begin activities on 21 July.
· IOM is finalizing construction of latrines at the IOM temporary clinic.
· Construction of bathing facilities will begin on 21 July.

Health
· Medical referrals from Tong Ping: ICRC will transport trauma cases to UN House, where MSF will treat trauma and IMC will treat general surgery patients. All suspected cholera patients will be transported to the cholera treatment centre at Juba Teaching Hospital (JTH).
· Cholera case: One suspected cholera case tested positive case by rapid diagnostic test (RDT) tand has been sent for laboratory culture test to verify. Contact tracing with immediate family along with disinfection of the house was conducted. The child of the first case was transferred to JTH for suspected cholera (waiting on RDT results).
· IOM medical staff conducted 233 consultations, with most patients seeking treatment for malaria, acute respiratory infection and skin disease.
· IOM will train health and hygiene promoters on 21 July; messaging will focus on good hygiene practices, drinking safe water and early detection of cholera symptoms.
· An oral rehydration point will be set up in the clinic area as part of the cholera preparedness and response.
· IOM has begun providing maternity services at the site.

FSL
· Food distribution is scheduled for 21 July. World Vision will distribute blanket supplementary feeding for all children under five.

Protection
· Conflicts at the water point have been observed between women (this should be eased as the site is developed and additional water points are finalized).
· Child Friendly Space (CFS) and School are in need of a permanent space and are currently operating in a temporary area near to the clinic with education in the morning and psychosocial support in the afternoon.

UNMISS UN HOUSE

CCCM
· Population of new arrivals remains at 6,836 individuals.
· Limited number of agencies travelled to UN House on 20 July due to demonstrations in Juba.

FSL
· Delivery of general food distribution commodities will begin on 21 July in PoC 1 and 22 July in PoC 3.

Protection
· Protection Cluster continues to seek protection arrangements to increase safety of IDPs along Yei road, north of PoC1.
· Prevention of gender-based violence, child protection and general protection activities are ongoing.

Shelter
· PoC1: New arrivals continue to stay in the NRC school and the community centre.
· PoC3: New arrivals continue to stay in the NRC school and the community centre.
· Space for construction of shelters for the large number of new arrivals is a challenge.

WASH
· Water delivery PoC1 and PoC3: 792,000L of water delivered by UNICEF.
· Latrine coverage PoC1: 66 persons per latrine
· Latrine coverage PoC3: 35 persons per latrine
· Sewage and garbage collection are ongoing.
· ACTED and UNICEF will look into additional space for pre-positioning of water supplies.
· Hygiene promotion is ongoing, and cholera prevention activities have begun in PoC3.

Health
· IMC has returned to pre-crisis capacity.
· IMC and MSF are operational in PoC1 and PoC3, and the ambulance continues to move freely in the site.

The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, Somalia and countries in the Lake Chad basin is worsening due to the effects of El Nino and conflict in the region.

Today I announce that the Australian Government will provide a further $17.5 million to support people suffering from severe hunger and malnutrition, and those displaced from their homes and in need of protection from conflict.

Australia will provide $8 million to the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. This funding will help deliver food, shelter, security, and other vital assistance including to South Sudanese who have fled to neighbouring countries. This brings Australia’s total contribution to South Sudan to more than $50 million since December 2013.

In Somalia, 1.1 million people have been displaced by terrorist activity and conflict. Australia will provide $4.5 million to Somalia, including $2.5 million to World Vision to help build the resilience of Somali communities and $2 million to the Somalia Humanitarian Fund for immediate life-saving assistance, including food, healthcare and water.

Australia will also provide $5 million through the World Food Programme for immediate food supplies, livelihood training and nutrition in the Lake Chad basin region. Over 2.1 million people have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency and 7.5 million people are in need of urgent food assistance.

This assistance comes from humanitarian funding within the existing Australian Aid budget.

Media enquiries

Minister's office: (02) 6277 7500 DFAT Media Liaison: (02) 6261 1555

Ayen, a 40-year-old mother of 5, is a member of Tang Kony Baai women cooperative in Mingkaman camp for internally displaced people (IDP). Tang Kony Baai is an innovative female cooperative for income generating activities based on re-use of waste materials. The group is now composed of 30 internally displaced women.

Before displacement, Ayen relied on small-scale farming to fend for her family’s livelihood back home in Bor. Ayen joined the women group in October 2015 after ACTED, women leaders and local chiefs created awareness on the program in the community. What captivated her attention was that the project was going to empower women with life skills that would enable them raise an income for their household. This was good news for her, since she was constrained in the camp with meager resources. She discussed her interest to join the women cooperative with her husband and he was postive about the idea, after realizing the future benefits their household would have thanks to the new skills aquired by his wife.

Ayen has participated in a comprehensive training on how to make crocheted bags from recycled paper bags and paper bags from waste paper. “From inception I have made 12 crotcheted bags each worth 300SSP and still making more because this is our greatest source of income in the household besides relief support we get on a monthly basis. In a month, I manage to raise close to 500SSP. With this income, I am now able to meet medical and scholastic bills for my family.”

As many as two thousand HIV and AIDS patients in Ezo County of Western Equatoria, have be left without treatment, as a free distribution programme of ARV is disrupted by insecurity.

Ngbapai Moses, an HIV Counsellor working with the Catholic Medical Mission Board in Ezo, said on Thursday that its difficult to bring the life-saving antiretroviral (ARV), because the road linking the County was blocked by an armed group last month.

Ngbapai said the drug shortage is already having severe consequences on some patients.

“We are facing a lot of difficulties like now we have about thirty-two new clients who are to start on treatment but there is no drug. Among these thirty-two clients, we have five children who are in serious conditions,” said Ngbapai.

Health experts warn that missing dosages of anti-retroviral treatment can increase patients’ drug resistance and changes in medication can result in side effects, while leaving the virus to spread faster.

Two years ago, the South Sudan AIDS Commission raised the alarm about rapidly rising HIV/AIDS prevalence rates, lamenting that the country’s ongoing political crisis had made it even more difficult to address the issue.

A report published by the World Health Organization’s in 2013 indicates, some 1.5 million people worldwide have died of AIDS-related illnesses, 35 million are currently living with the virus, and about 2.1 million are newly infected.

“Of the roughly 35 million people currently living with HIV, about 24.7 million are in sub-Saharan Africa – the region hardest hit by the epidemic,” – UNAIDS source.

South Sudan – An estimated 83,100 people remain displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance in Wau, South Sudan, following clashes in late June.

While IOM continues lifesaving assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Wau town, humanitarian agencies have been unable to access IDPs sheltering in areas south of town, where insecurity has severely hindered access in recent weeks.

“Securing access to areas outside of Wau is critical to providing assistance to an estimated 38,000 people displaced and in urgent need of help,” explained Andrew Gethi, who leads IOM’s humanitarian operations in Wau.

IOM staffers have been unable to travel to areas south of town, including IOM’s temporary clinic in Ngisa. Insecurity is also stalling plans to rehabilitate boreholes south of Wau to ensure displaced populations have access to safe drinking water.

The fighting in late June and subsequent skirmishes have exacerbated already existing high needs due to insecurity that has affected the area since late 2015.

IOM teams are providing safe drinking water for an estimated 25,000 people sheltering near the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) base in town, as well as providing shelter support for IDPs living near the base and in collective centres.

As camp manager of a protected area located next to the UNMISS base, IOM has begun site improvement to respond to the increasing numbers of IDPs and resulting overcrowding.

IOM health workers also manage two temporary clinics at the South Sudan Red Cross and the Cathedral in the town of Wau, providing general health care consultations, vaccinations, maternal care and psychosocial support.

The number of people seeking shelter at the UNMISS site and the Cathedral increased rapidly in early July due to fighting in neighboring areas. While the population influx has stabilized, many IDPs have told IOM staff that they believe their neighborhoods remain unsafe and that they would require more information on security conditions before making a decision to return home.

Humanitarians remain concerned about conditions in Raja, further northwest in Western Bahr el Ghazal, where access to affected populations remains restricted following heavy fighting in mid-June that reportedly displaced thousands.

Unpredictable security conditions persist in much of the country, including the capital Juba, where fighting in mid-July displaced over 15,000 people. Amid increasing concerns regarding food insecurity and political instability, the UN estimates that 6.1 million people are in need of humanitarian aid in South Sudan this year.

For further information, please contact Ashley McLaughlin at IOM South Sudan, Tel: +254 736654086, Email: amclaughlin@iom.int.

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andreas Needham – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 22 July 2016, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

By: Andreas Needham | 22 July 2016

Thousands of people continue to flee uncertainty and fighting in South Sudan. Since fighting erupted on July 7 between forces loyal to President Kiir and First Vice President Machar, 26,468 people have crossed into Uganda’s northern region, including 24,321 in the previous six days alone. The influx continues to be characterised by a high proportion of women and children (more than 90%). Yesterday, an estimated 8,337 refugees crossed in to Uganda from South Sudan, a new record high since the influx began and in 2016. An estimated 6,500 crossed in Elegu, 659 in Moyo, 156 in Lamwo and 642 in Oraba while 380 arrived in Kiryandongo Reception Centre.

The influx is severely stretching the capacity of collection points, transit centres and reception centres. Elegu collection point is full to the extent that it is not possible conduct a head count. New arrivals figures in Elegu are based on an analysis of trends throughout the day. On Wednesday night, more than 7,000 people slept at Elegu collection point, significantly beyond its 1,000-person capacity. Similarly, Kuluba collection point is hosting 1,099 refugees, compared to its 300-person capacity. Torrential rains are further hampering registration efforts.

New arrivals in Adjumani report continued fighting between forces loyal to President Kiir and those loyal to First Vice-President Machar. There are reports that armed gunmen continue to loot properties, forcibly recruit boys and young men, and murder civilians in Magwi.

Another Uganda People’s Defense Force convoy evacuating Ugandan nationals from South Sudan is expected today. On previous occasions, a large number of refugees have taken the opportunity to flee the country by accompanying the convoy.

For more information on this topic, please contact:

In Nairobi, Teresa Ongaro, ongaro@unhcr.org, +254 735 337 608 In Nairobi, Duke Mwancha, mwancha@unhcr.org +254 722 207 863 In Kampala, Charles Yaxley, yaxley@unhcr.org , +256 (0) 776 720 045
In Gambella, Sulaiman Momodou, momodu@unhcr.org +251 935 978 519 In Geneva, Andreas Needham, needham@unhcr.org +41 79 217 3140

KEY FIGURES

847,964 Total South Sudanese refugees as of 30 June (both pre Dec 2013 caseload and new arrivals)

973,000 Total South Sudanese expected by 31 December 2016 (RRP Planning Figure)

266,916 Refugees in South Sudan

1.69 M Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in South Sudan

FUNDING (as of 27 June)

USD 573.4 M Requested by UNHCR for the situation

HIGHLIGHTS

• In Juba, South Sudan, clashes between government soldiers and opposition troops began Thursday 7 July and continued over the weekend before a ceasefire was declared on the afternoon of 11 July. The ceasefire is holding, however there have been reports of pockets of conflict in other parts of the country.

• In response to the situation inside South Sudan, all countries of asylum have increased border monitoring and are undertaking preparedness activities should a mass out flow from South Sudan occur.

• In Uganda, there has been a significant spike in new arrivals, with indications that the size of the influx is set to increase in the days ahead. A total of 1,633 new arrivals crossed into Uganda on Sunday 17 July, which constitutes the highest daily new arrival figures since the fighting began in South Sudan earlier this month, and for 2016.

• At the regional level, UNHCR and partners launched the revised Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) 2016 in Nairobi on Friday 15 July. The revised RRP population planning figures were revised based on higher than expected population flows in the first four months of the year and anticipate 973,000 South Sudanese refugees in the region by 31 December 2016. However this figure does not take in to account the recent events in South Sudan. The revised interagency financial requirements total USD 701 million.

Population of concern:
A total of 847,964 South Sudanese refugees as of 30 June

The ongoing crisis in South Sudan is aggravating an already fragile socio‐economic context, in which many households are at risk of food insecurity and malnutrition both in rural and urban centers, including in the capital Juba. The South Sudan IPC update for April 2016 estimated that 4.8 million people (40% of the total population) would face severe food insecurity countrywide in the May‐July 2016 lean season period. A high proportion of the food insecure are from the states of Unity, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile and Warrap. The macro-economic downturn occasioned by the protracted crisis and the decline in oil revenues, combined with below‐average harvests in 2015 led to a further increase of food prices and a contraction of income-generating opportunities, hence constraining physical and economic access to food for South Sudan’s poor population, estimated at 60% of the total population as of 2015.

Population in IPC Phases

About 360,000 of the estimated food insecure population are the urban poor in Juba, Wau, and Aweil towns, who are most affected by the economic crisis, diminished livelihood opportunities, and high cost of food. In Central Equatoria, approximately 20% of the population was estimated to be facing severe food insecurity from May to July, the majority of whom are the Juba urban poor. This number is expected to go up following the recent fighting in Juba.

The deterioration of the nutrition situation across South Sudan is equally worrying. The South Sudan Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) shot up drastically from 13% in November/December 2015 to 17.9% in May/June 2016. Seven out of ten states have GAM above the WHO 15% emergency threshold. The GAM in worst-affected two states is above or close to 30%; GAM in Northern Bahr el Ghazal is 33.3% and 26.2% in Unity. The worsening food security situation, high morbidity due to fever, and conflict-related population displacements may further fuel a deteriorating nutrition situation as the above factors disrupt efforts to treat and prevent acute malnutrition.

Results of recent conflict in Juba

Juba is an important commercial and humanitarian logistical hub and recent fighting has resulted in disruptions to key infrastructure that supports livelihoods, destruction of some key markets, and displacement of populations in Juba, with ripple effects across the neighbouring counties. At the height of the recent conflict in Juba, an estimated 36 000 people were displaced, and currently an estimated 15,000 remain displaced without adequate shelter, food, water, or sanitation and hygiene facilities. People that fled their homes in Juba have lost both domestic and productive assets to looting. Livelihoods based on casual labour and petty trade have also been severely affected, further exacerbating the food insecurity situation among the urban poor in Juba.

Already dysfunctional markets in Juba have been disrupted further through the looting of shops and market stalls. Trade in Juba and the neighbouring counties relies on the Nimule--Juba highway for the importation of food commodities and current insecurity along the road is severely affecting the ability of traders to supply markets sufficiently in order to meet food demands. Traders in the most conflict-affected markets have lost their stock and capacity to re-stock, with many foreign traders opting to leave for security reasons. As a consequence of the fighting, immediately after the ceasefire was declared, prices of basic commodities in Juba rose by as high as 45‐80% for legumes, 12‐58% for cereals and 70-80% for fuel. The local currency lost further ground to the US dollar (depreciated by 43%) in the aftermath of the conflict, exchanging at SSP 60/1 US dollar down from SSP 48/1 US dollar a week earlier. South Sudan currently has an inflation rate of over 300% - the highest in the world and a historical high since the country rebased the CPI basket in June 2011.

Impact on humanitarian response

The capacity of humanitarian agencies to respond to the deteriorating food and nutrition security situation has been further compromised by the looting of agencies’ warehouses and insecurity-related staff reductions. This comes as an additional constraint to the inadequate funding which was constraining the humanitarian response in 2016, and alongside low operational capacity and logistical challenges in addressing the growing food and nutritional needs of the vulnerable population. Due to the latest events, international staff evacuation is reducing the UN and NGOs operational capacity and humanitarian air operations for the delivery of assistance to vulnerable populations across the country are expected to scale down in the face of the fluctuating security situation and airport closures.

Looking forward

It is feared that if insecurity spreads to the other parts of the country, the national food security situation will further deteriorate from the current estimated 4.8 million people as a result of disruptions to agricultural production, and livestock and fisheries activities. The reduced capacity of humanitarian organizations to respond to increasing needs, especially if combined with limited accessibility, will further constrain food access for vulnerable.

In the prevailing negative outlook, the only positive mitigating factor is the current cropping season that is benefiting from an average to above average rainy season and timely and widespread coverage of crop input distributions across most agricultural areas in the country. The upcoming green harvest in August and main harvest in November‐December, is expected to mitigate food shortages across the country as well as provide reprieve from high market prices as local produce finds its way into the markets. The rainy season has also resulted in the availability of wild foods, fish and livestock products for most rural populations.

However, any deterioration of an already fragile and tense security situation is likely to restrict access to fishing grounds, farms for crop planting and harvesting, and will push livestock herders into unseasonal migration patterns towards areas that are normally intended for crop production. All these, if unchecked, will lead to a further deterioration of the already fragile food security situation.

Appeal by food security and nutrition partners

The food security and nutrition partners are greatly concerned that disruptions as a result of the recent conflict are escalating an already severe food and nutrition security situation in Juba, particularly among the urban poor. There is an urgent need for the Government to immediately provide and guarantee security in Juba and the neighbouring counties to ensure the smooth flow of goods and services to populations in need, especially the market‐dependent poor, in order to prevent any further deterioration of the dire food security and malnutrition situation. The Government needs to scale up efforts to ensure a sustainably secure environment in the whole country in order to facilitate the successful conclusion of the current cropping season which is expected to improve food security and nutrition as households will rely more on their farm produce and less on markets. Local production also assists urban populations as it replenishes market stocks at a lower cost, slightly easing high food prices. Millions of people already severely food insecure will be impacted if the conflict spreads beyond Juba. Also, it is vital that the Government assures the security and safety of humanitarian agencies, their assets and staff, and allow unrestricted access so that ongoing operations can continue to deliver assistance to the increasingly vulnerable populations.

As a result of the recent developments, food security and nutrition partners are advocating for continued investment in data collection and analysis to inform decision-¬making despite the security and operational constraints. Also the need to monitor at-risk areas – namely Unity and Bahr el Ghazal states that are currently in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) – is vital.

An analysis of all recently collected data will be undertaken in August by the food security and nutrition partners using IPC protocols, and a report of the national food security and nutrition situation will be published. This analysis report will guide humanitarian partners in their planning and response to the evolving food and nutrition insecurity situation.

Staff sent home, to safe locations or to Nairobi (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has expressed its concern over renewed conflict and escalating violence in South Sudan. Violence broke out at the end of last week, especially in and around the capital, Juba. A ceasefire between the two conflicting parties, agreed since Monday, 11 July, so far, remains in place.

Addressing the situation in Juba, the acting director and global program coordinator of the LWF Department for World Service (DWS) John Damerell said that LWF activities in Juba had been severely hampered with staff sent home or forced to hibernate in safe locations. On Wednesday of this week, four international staff were evacuated from Juba to Nairobi.

“This outbreak of violence is again a big tragedy and we are very concerned about its impact on the local population who are the victims of this conflict,” said Damerell, adding “we are also concerned about the impact of continued violence on the work of those organizations providing necessary emergency assistance to South Sudanese communities and refugees.” He said that LWF is closely monitoring the situation, assessing when normal operations can resume.

LWF programs in Jonglei, Maban and Ajuong Thok are not currently directly affected, but tension in these areas is increasing. Therefore LWF has taken additional security measures to remain alert and prepared should the situation deteriorate there too. For now management of the office in Juba and the general management of LWF South Sudan operations has been temporarily relocated to Nairobi.

Assisting more than 260,000 people

In 2015 the LWF assisted more than 260,000 people affected by the conflict in South Sudan, both within the country and in the neighboring countries of Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. The LWF implements programs through four field locations in South Sudan: Juba, Jonglei, Maban and Ajuong Thok. The interventions focus on providing water, sanitation, education, protection and psychosocial support.

Damerell reiterated LWF’s previous appeals to parties involved in the South Sudan conflict “to put an end to the fighting, and consolidate their efforts in building peaceful co-existence in this young nation.”

LWF received more than 12,000 people this week

(LWI) – Following violent clashes in South Sudan, thousands of South Sudanese have now arrived in Uganda to seek refuge in the neighboring country.

Most are entering through Elegu collection center at the border between South Sudan and Uganda, which has been managed by The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) since December 2013.

“It took more than five hours of non-stop streaming in of the new arrivals through the gate of the collection center. We did a quick count at the gate for an hour and on average, 41 people were entering in a minute,” LWF staff Betty Lamunu reports.

From 17-21 July, LWF received more than 12,000 people, with a peak of more than 7,000 people on 21 July. The team expects those numbers to rise in the coming days. According to LWF staff, refugees cite the fragile security situation, fighting, torture, forced recruitment of youth, looting and hunger as reasons for fleeing to Uganda.

Desperate, malnourished, traumatized

The refugee movement is a result of violent clashes that broke out in the South Sudanese capital of Juba. Hundreds of people, mostly soldiers, have been reportedly killed in the fighting between rival armed groups, raising fears of a slide back into all-out conflict.

On 4 July a peace agreement between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his vice president Riek Machar collapsed. The security situation has remained critical since then. Last week, LWF staff were sent home or evacuated. The LWF Juba office has been operating from Nairobi, Kenya, since.

Ugandan military convoys crossed into South Sudan on 14 July to evacuate its citizens from Juba. The convoy of around 50 trucks triggered the movement of refugees now being received. The UN refugee agency UNHCR expects more people to flee to Uganda, especially now that the 200km Juba-Nimule road, linking the South Sudan capital to Uganda, has been cleared of checkpoints. As a result, more people are now coming by truck. The new arrivals are mostly fleeing Eastern Equatoria state, with a smaller number arriving from Juba. They report that the security situation remains volatile and fighting could return at any time.

Adjumani again receives most refugees Adjumani in north Uganda has, once again, become the main recipient of South Sudanese refugees. LWF continues registration of new arrivals at Elegu Border Point and has constructed temporary shelters to accommodate new arrivals awaiting registration and transportation.

LWF also maintains hygiene at the collection center and provides soap and sanitary materials to all households and to women, and dignity kits for women and girls. Special attention is given to people with special needs including unaccompanied minors, separated children, people with disabilities and victims of sexual and gender based violence.

A psychosocial support desk has been created at Elegu to handle severe psychological cases. According to LWF staff, the refugees are desperate, traumatized and famished after walking for days without food.

Lamunu tells the story of a 12-year old girl who was in boarding school when the fighting started and came home to find both her parents burnt in their house. She has also met children who were brought by neighbors and who do not know if their parents are still alive. “They may be too young to understand what is happening but their souls tell them that something is gravely wrong. We will have to scale up child protection programming or sustainable peace and security in the future,” she says.

Influx expected to rise

As of 30 June, 228,250 South Sudanese refugees were hosted in Uganda with nearly 137,930 residing in Adjumani Refugee Settlement where LWF provides water, sanitation, protection and other lifesaving interventions to nearly 60 percent of the refugee population.

A new site has been identified with a capacity for 22,000 refugees. Currently hosting 10,000 people, it is expected to be full by the end of this week. The massive influx has created significant gaps in core areas of water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter, non-food relief goods and protection.

“It will be critical to address the urgent needs of new arrivals, whilst continuing to stabilize the situation of the substantial number of South Sudanese refugees who are already living in Adjumani,” LWF country representative Jesse Kamstra says.

“The refugees who arrive here confirm our suspicions that a major influx to Uganda will take place over the coming weeks. There is a critical need to prioritize emergency response and life-saving activities in light of the current rapid deterioration of the situation.”

The LWF country program in Kenya has also prepared for rising numbers of refugees. LWF manages the reception center at the Kakuma refugee camp, which hosts mostly refugees from South Sudan, and the transit center at the border between Kenya and South Sudan. As the border to Kenya is further from Juba, LWF staff however expect refugees to arrive much later.