Crisis is becoming a new normal in the world today. Over the past 30 years, the world has lost more than 2.5 million people and almost $4 trillion to natural disasters. In 2017 alone, adverse natural events resulted in global losses of about $330 billion, making last year the costliest ever in terms of global weather-related disasters. Climate change, demographic shifts, and other global trends may also create fragility risks. Currently, conflicts drive 80 percent of all humanitarian needs and the share of the extreme poor living in conflict-affected situations is expected to rise to more than 60 percent by 2030.

In a world increasingly filled with risk, social protection systems help individuals and families cope with civil war, natural disaster, displacement, and other shocks. Social protection systems also help build human capital by connecting people to jobs, investing in the health and education of their children, and protecting the elderly and other vulnerable groups.

Adaptive social protection systems (ASP) go one step further by helping ensure that these critical investments in human capital are not undermined by a crisis or shock. Such systems share many of the same features as regular social protection systems to help meet critical needs, but they also include features that allow us to know not just who is poor right now, but who is vulnerable to becoming poorer in the face of a shock, what they may need to recover, as well as how to finance and deliver support to them in times of crisis. These systems can then be used as a platform for other interventions in health, education, and other social services.  

The World Bank is already helping countries develop systems for responding to crises through identifying risk through risk modeling and mapping, strengthening early warning systems, ensuring that a country has financial protection (e.g., insurance, catastrophe bonds) before a disaster, “building-better” and by investing in social protection.

While the Bank traditionally works in the development sphere, we have increasingly been working in complement with humanitarian actors as we increase our engagement in fragile and conflict affected countries, and in responding to other shocks such as natural disasters and climate change.

In response to the devastating food crisis in North-East Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen last March, the World Bank mobilized a $1.8 billion package consisting of 17 projects to deliver cash to affected population to enable purchase of food, strengthen community resilience, and maintain service delivery to the most vulnerable in those countries.  Famine in Yemen has been so far averted as a result of concerted efforts including those cash transfers.

In 2015, the Government of Pakistan joined hands with the World Bank to launch the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Temporarily Displaced Persons Emergency Recovery Project (TDP-ERP) to support the return and rehabilitation of the displaced families through an early recovery cash grant program.

And when pandemics such as Ebola struck, the Bank provided support for essential supplies and drugs, surges of foreign health workers to stricken communities, and psychosocial support for those affected by Ebola. The Bank also provided budget support to help the governments of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone cope with economic impact of the outbreak and finance the scale-up of social safety net programs for people in these three countries.

Given the critical role social protection systems can play in responding to crises and addressing vulnerability, we continue to partner with governments and other development and humanitarian actors to call for increased coverage of Social Protection systems to reduce the burden on humanitarian systems and put the government in the driver’s seat in responding to the shocks wherever possible.

This week, approximately 240 policymakers from 70 countries are gathering in Frankfurt to discuss these important issues at the 7th South-South Learning Forum (SSLF). The event will cover all aspects of ASP from policies and programs for effective crisis response, sustainable financing, and information management systems, to all manner of shocks from natural disasters to refugees and economic crises. We look forward to learning from our colleagues from around the world.

This is the first in a series of blogs on adaptive social protection. Click here to read about the South-South Learning Forum. Find out more about World Bank Group Social Protection on Twitter.

You can also watch a moving slideshow about adaptive social protection here.

FILIP ANDERSSON

Moustapha Soumaré, deputy head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, has praised the resilience, determination and progress demonstrated and made by South Sudanese women in making their concerns count in the ongoing peace process.

“From the outcomes [of the High-Level Revitalization Forum discussing a way forward towards durable peace in South Sudan] I have witnessed so far, I can say that women’s organizations are effectively seizing the opportunity to promote common positions and interests,” Mr. Soumaré told the attendees at the South Sudan Open Days Dialogue on Women, Peace and Security.

The annual event, the sixth of its kind, is held at Juba Grand Hotel on 13-15 March. It gathers women leaders from both national and sub-national levels, including members of parliament and representatives from civil society organizations, the organized forces and the academic world.

Together, participants deliberate on how to best achieve the key objectives of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which include increasing women’s participation in government, policy making processes, peace negotiation processes and efforts to protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence.

Mr. Soumaré said great progress has been made, citing the inclusion of prohibitions of sexual violence in conflict, protection of civilians, and support for the reunification of women and children in the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, signed in December last year, as concrete examples.

More female influence in action followed at the second phase of the High-Level Revitalization Forum in Addis Ababa last February. Amongst other successful interventions, the 21 participating women secured the renewal of the affirmative action that requires 35 per cent of those appointed to the next Transitional Government of National Unity to be women.

Mr. Soumaré also praised women’s participation in the ongoing National Dialogue and its sub-national level consultations, describing their voices in these discussions as “bold”.

“The courage of solidarity that women in South Sudan have so far demonstrated is commendable and I encourage you to continue such engagements. I reassure you that we will continue to accompany you in your endeavours,” the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General stated, adding that a “united, strong nation-state” will be “a pure utopia” as long as the security of women and girls has not been guaranteed.

The top UN official urged both male and female persons in positions of influence to lead by example.

“As leaders, your country counts on you. The youth respect you and expect your leadership. You are their heroes and their role models, and your actions and words will inspire the younger generation to follow the path that you have painstakingly paved.”

The South Sudan Open Days Dialogue on Women, Peace and Security is convened by the UN Mission, the UN Development Programme and UN Women.

The event culminates on 15 March with the presentation of recommendations for actions, and the monitoring and follow-up of their implementation, to the head of UNMISS, David Shearer. Mr. Shearer will also lead a Questions & Answers session about the UN’s support to the role of women in the peace process.

AFTERNOON

GENEVA (13 March 2018) - The Human Rights Council this afternoon held an interactive dialogue with the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan.

Presenting the report, Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, drew the Council’s attention to a staggering 2.4 million children who were displaced from their homes in South Sudan. The conflict had spread to almost all of South Sudan. Ms. Sooka noted that the Peace Agreement had stipulated the need for the establishment of a Hybrid Court for South Sudan straight away by the Government through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Union. If that did not happen, the African Union had the authority to set up a Hybrid Court, outside the country if necessary, to try alleged perpetrators for South Sudan. However, the Commission was acutely aware that a Hybrid Court could not deal with the staggering number of violations in South Sudan, and that the impunity gap should be filled by the Truth Commission which should have already been established.

Paulino Wanawilla Unango, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of South Sudan, said the report was full of repetitions and flaws. There was an improvement in the human rights situation, through national dialogue, the Technical Committee for the Establishment of Truth and Healing, and the reformation and training of officers in human rights and international and domestic law. Since 2011, over 2,000 children had been identified, screened and released from armed groups. It was not true that there was impunity – over 200 cases had already been examined for violations while on duty.

In the ensuing discussion, speakers strongly condemned the widespread violence which continued in total impunity in the last few months, which violated international humanitarian law, and which could constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. They said the downward spiral must halt and urged the Government to establish a Truth and Reparations Commission, to speed up the other transitional justice mechanisms, and to ensure that perpetrators of crimes were brought to justice. The culture of impunity among political and military leaders could no longer be tolerated, they said. While some called on the African Union to establish the Hybrid Court outside of the territory of South Sudan, others called upon the Government of South Sudan to sign the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of a Hybrid Court within South Sudan. Speakers called on the Government to ensure continued and unhindered access to humanitarian aid. Others believed that a political solution was the only way out of the South Sudan problem, and encouraged the international community to sustain its synergies in this direction and to assist with the economic and humanitarian situation in the country. They called upon all parties to genuinely implement the peace agreement.

Speaking were European Union, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, United States, Australia, France, China, Albania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Botswana, Sudan, Eritrea, United Kingdom, Ireland, Kenya, Norway, Mozambique and Algeria.

The following civil society organizations also spoke: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Article 19 - The International Centre against Censorship, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, and Rencontre Africaine pour la defense des droits de l’homme.

The Council has a full day of meetings scheduled today. It will next hold an interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi.

Documentation

The Council has before it the Report of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (A/HRC/37/71)

The Council has before it an annex to the Report of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (A/HRC/37/CRP.2)

Presentation by the Chair of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan

YASMIN SOOKA, Chair of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, drew attention to a staggering 2.4 million children who were displaced from their homes in South Sudan. They lived in makeshift settlements on empty land with grossly inadequate support. In some cases, if there was a school, 400 children could sit in a class. Overall, two million South Sudanese children were reported to be out of school, which was 72 per cent, the highest proportion anywhere in the world. If the conflict continued, only one in 13 would even finish primary school. The conflict had spread to almost all of South Sudan. As the country fractured along multiple fault lines, ethnic and political, millions had fled. They urgently needed the fighting to stop and the armed actors to abide by the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement so that they were able to go back to their ancestral villages, reclaim their homes, grow their crops and tend their cattle. The longer communities remained dispersed, the more their traditional structures died out, their culture crumbled and the economy disintegrated. Ms. Sooka reminded that in March 2017, the Council had given the Commission an enhanced mandate – to collect and preserve evidence – with a view to sharing it with the Hybrid Court, a Truth Commission, and a reparations body agreed under the peace agreement for South Sudan. Her team had been able to visit most of the conflict-affected areas in South Sudan, as well as to see towns like Malakal, Yei, Torit and Wau, which had been emptied of their populations, and had then seen those people in refugee camps on the other side of the border. Ms. Sooka thanked the Government of South Sudan for making the visit possible and for the constructive engagement with many Government representatives, all over the country.

The Commission had collected thousands of documents and taken statements from hundreds of witnesses. That material would be invaluable to a prosecutor one day in proving command responsibility. The continuous collection and analysis of that evidence was critical to the accountability process. The Commission’s report focused on five recent emblematic incidents, established a victims’ evidence base and collected linkage evidence in what had been ground breaking work. The Commission used a “reasonable grounds” standard of proof. It had focused not only on establishing the occurrence of violations but also on identifying those bearing command and superior responsibility for them. And the opposition should note that command responsibility was not restricted to State actors alone. The Commission had identified several South Sudanese officials who might bear individual responsibility for serious violations of human rights and international crimes committed since 2013. As it was customary with United Nations reports, the Commission did not name those individuals, not least because it did not want to jeopardize any future judicial proceedings.

Part of the Commission’s mandate involved providing guidance on transitional justice. Ms. Sooka noted that the Hybrid Court for South Sudan that was stipulated in the peace agreement should be set up straight away. All that was necessary was for the Government to sign the Memorandum of Understanding. If that did not happen, the African Union had the authority to set up a Hybrid Court, outside the country if necessary, to try alleged perpetrators for South Sudan. However, the Commission was acutely aware that a Hybrid Court could not deal with the staggering number of violations in South Sudan; and that the impunity gap should be filled by the Truth Commission, which should have already been established by now. Ms. Sooka called on the Government to demonstrate its intent regarding reparations by making budgetary provisions for a Victims’ Trust Fund immediately. The timing of the Government’s National Dialogue process had been criticized by most South Sudanese who argued that any dialogue process had to be carried out in terms of Chapter V of the Peace Agreement to be credible but more than anything, the Government had to create a conducive environment for consultations, where independent journalists and critics did not have to fear for their lives if they offered a dissenting view. Criminal accountability through the hybrid court needed political will. The mandate and work of the Commission had raised the expectations of victims – they were not walking through the night to document their suffering on the off chance that there might one day be justice. They wanted the world to act now to ensure their children had a chance to be doctors, engineers and pilots.

Interactive Dialogue

European Union was appalled by reports of sexual violence, particularly against women and girls. South Sudan bore immediate responsibility to bring perpetrators of such crimes to justice. The European Union called for the signing with the African Union of the Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a Hybrid Court to deal with serious human rights violations. Germany noted South Sudan’s cooperation with the Commission. Germany called for all perpetrators of human rights violations to be held accountable and asked what judicial follow-up processes existed in South Sudan. Denmark said the scale of human suffering in South Sudan was almost beyond description. All parties to the conflict continued to undertake attacks and crimes were committed against populations that the Government claimed to protect. Access to humanitarian assistance remained restricted.

Spain condemned violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and arbitrary detentions. Spain reiterated past recommendations for Sudan to take action to ensure the protection of children in armed conflict. Nearly half of the population was in need of humanitarian assistance. Switzerland was alarmed at the serious rights violations in South Sudan that could constitute crimes against humanity. All parties to the conflict were asked to cooperate with United Nations entities to help bring an end to the crisis. United States commended the Commission’s preservation of documents that could help hold perpetrators of crimes accountable. The level of brutality documented by the Commission was appalling. The United States asked if a United Nations arms embargo could help address the crisis.

Australia expressed deep concern about the gross human rights situation in South Sudan, some of which constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity. It added that sanctions were a legitimate means of effecting change in the absence of real progress towards peace. France hailed the cooperation of the Government of South Sudan with the Commission, but voiced concern about continued human rights violations, especially those targeting children. It noted that the Government was primarily responsible for the protection of its civilians. China noted that Africans should address their own issues in the African way. A political solution was the only way to solve the crisis in South Sudan, and China called on the international community to pay special attention to the refugee problem in that country. Albania welcomed the continued cooperation of South Sudan with the United Nations human rights mechanisms, but it remained concerned about the growing number of violations in the country, some of which could amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Statement by the Concerned Country

PAULINO WANAWILLA UNANGO, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of South Sudan, noted that the report was generalized, and was full of repetitions and flaws. Two examples of those flaws were identifying the Former Detainees and the People Democratic Movement as part of non-State armed groups, and describing Mathiang Anyoor as militia. The reality was that the Former Detainees and the People Democratic Movement were political bodies without armed forces, while Mathiang Anyoor was part of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and not militia. Since the last update to the Council in September 2017, the security situation in the country had continued to improve due to the engagement with communities in the peace process through the national dialogue, and the Technical Committee for the Establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing. Since the beginning of the crisis in 2013, the SPLA Child Protection Unit and the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission, with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, had identified, screened and released 2,211 children. The children recruited by different armed groups had been released after each group had reached an agreement with the Government. Mr. Unango also reminded that the SPLA Court Martial had tried 203 cases related to various offences committed by SPLA personnel, whereas SPLA senior officers had been trained in the six grave violations of child’s rights and child protection.

Interactive Dialogue

Netherlands was appalled by the report’s findings of gross human rights violations, some of which could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Government of South Sudan and the African Union were called on to urgently take definite steps towards the establishment of the Hybrid Court as well as to speed up the implementation of the other transitional justice elements. New Zealand said that the report highlighted the deliberate targeting of civilians based on ethnic identity, including killings, abductions, rape and sexual violence. The signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in December 2017 was welcomed, although the violations of the agreement continued. Botswana was concerned about the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict and stressed the importance of unhindered humanitarian access. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a Hybrid Court would demonstrate South Sudan’s and the African Union’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the plight of the people.

Sudan welcomed the cooperation of South Sudan with the international community. The resolution of the conflict was encouraged through national dialogue and regional mechanisms, including the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. United Kingdom reminded that last year the Council had struggled to comprehend the extraordinary levels of violence inflicted on civilians throughout South Sudan, and now it had worsened. South Sudan’s leaders were called on to work towards peace through the High-Level Revitalization Forum. Ireland echoed calls for the Government of South Sudan and all parties to the conflict to abide by the recent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. What could be done to integrate psycho-social support into the design of justice and conflict resolution mechanisms and how could the international community better address that need?

Kenya commended the Government of South Sudan for facilitating the work of the Commission in its missions, stating that South Sudan presented one of the most complex environments for ensuring accountability and promoting transitional justice. The peace agreement provided for the establishment of a Hybrid Court, a Truth Commission, and a Reparations Authority, and in this direction, Kenya urged the Government to speed up the establishment of these bodies. Norway condemned the crimes and violations in South Sudan in the strongest terms, stating that the primary responsibility to protect the population lay with the Government. It encouraged the African Union to establish as soon as possible the Hybrid Court, and encouraged South Sudan to press charges through the civil court system and not through the military court alone. Mozambique called upon the international community to support the implementation of transitional justice and accountability, including setting up of an Independent Hybrid Court with the cooperation of the African Union, the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, as well as other measures contained in the report of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan. Algeria commended the cooperation of the Government of South Sudan with human rights mechanisms. It had conducted prosecutions against war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity, through the Hybrid Court that the African Union had established. All stakeholders were called on to implement the United Nations resolutions and appealed to all parties to work together for a lasting solution to the conflict.

Human Rights Watch said its research echoed the deeply disturbing findings in the Commission’s new report. South Sudan’s civil war, now in its fifth year, had shattered the new country. Parties to the conflict had engaged in deliberate killings of civilians, destruction of civilian property, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances as well as widespread rape and sexual violence. Amnesty International shared the Commission’s shock and outrage over the killing, rape, abduction, detention and other human rights violations against South Sudanese civilians committed by both government and opposition forces, often based on ethnicity. It had documented numerous war crimes by all sides. The National Security Services and Military Intelligence Directorate had continued to arbitrarily arrest and detain perceived government opponents.

Article 19 - The International Centre against Censorship voiced concern about the violations of freedom of expression which had contributed to the cycle of violence in South Sudan. Impunity for attacks and murder of journalists had to be addressed. The Government had failed to provide any information about such incidents. East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project noted that human rights defenders in South Sudan, who were struggling to document the ongoing violations, were faced with harassment, threats against their life, and reprisals. There was no mechanism to ensure accountability for what could amount to crimes against humanity; no senior officials were on trial. Without accountability there could be no lasting peace and reconciliation. International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination stressed that the situation in South Sudan was deeply alarming, while the scale and severity of atrocities committed against civilians amounted to crimes against humanity. External influences, such as transnational oil companies, and internal factors, such as corruption in the Government, had to be seriously investigated. Rencontre Africaine pour la defense des droits de l’homme stated that the grotesque nature of widespread sexual violence against civilians and the total disregard for human life along ethnic lines in South Sudan was extremely alarming. It was evident that the South Sudanese parties did not intend to comply even with their own agreements.

Concluding Remarks

ANDREW CLAPHAM, Member of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, thanked the political parties which had become part of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. Concerning the immediate priorities of the Government of South Sudan, these were the establishment of the Hybrid Court and the prosecution of perpetrators of crimes or those who failed to prevent crimes, as well as regulating criminalization within the national legislation system of South Sudan. Member States of the United Nations and the African Union could support the Hybrid Court, and continue humanitarian assistance, while help could be provided for the Victims’ Fund. The report took into account that proceedings for crimes against humanity did not necessarily have to take place in South Sudan but could be prosecuted in countries that were signatories of the Convention against Torture. To further facilitate the work of the Commission, the right resources were needed to assist in analyzing the documents obtained. The Commission was tasked by the Council to identify crimes committed in South Sudan and it had identified crimes under South Sudanese laws, war crimes, particularly rape and pillage, and crimes against humanity, particularly rape and persecution on ethnic grounds. The question asked by South Sudanese was reiterated to the Council – what would the international community do about the suffering of the people in South Sudan?

YASMIN SOOKA, Chair of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, said that concerning the matter of 72 per cent of the child population which was out of school, this was a consequence of the conflict, including displacement of teachers, destruction of schools and recruitment of children into conflict. Thus, the recruitment of children had to stop and the education system had to be rebuilt, requiring enormous resources. Additionally, interim reparations mechanisms needed to be established, reallocating funds from military spending to alleviate the consequences of conflict. The Government had established a Working Group which had not been able to do a lot, due to the national dialogue process. Many argued that national dialogue should only occur within the framework of Chapter V of the Peace Agreement and that safety and security as well as stopping of surveillance by the security services were priority issues. Research showed that the majority of people did not know what chapter V was about and were unaware of many of the transitional justice institutions. The Hybrid Court set out in Chapter V of the Peace Agreement was an African solution to an African problem, it was only missing one signature to become operational.

For use of the information media; not an official record

It’s 8am, and the MSF compound in Akobo, eastern South Sudan, is a hive of activity. In front of the logistics tent, staff carefully load tables, chairs, floor mats, septic boxes, medicines and other supplies into the back of a vehicle. Nearby, the Project Coordinator manages to simultaneously gulp down a cup of coffee while mumbling into a dusty handset radio. With still-unbuttoned life jackets resting squarely on their shoulders, a team of clinical officers, nurses, and community health workers discuss the day’s strategy.

By the time the South Sudanese sun manages to break through Akobo’s final layer of foliage, the compound is quiet and the MSF mobile team is already cruising up the Pibor River. Their destination: a remote village where no other health services exist.

Since December 2013, millions have been, and continue to be, displaced as a result of South Sudan’s current conflict. In Akobo, people fleeing from nearby conflict zones arrive on an almost-daily basis. Some of our patients tell us how they make the several-day journey by foot and only walk at night when the fighting temporarily subsides.

Women and children make up much of the displaced community. While some manage to settle in with family or friends, others have no other option but to stay at the nearby primary school, where they have little access to food or water. Many are mentally traumatised after seeing their husbands, fathers, and brothers killed amid the insecurity.

Because of the ongoing conflict and resulting displacement, the medical and humanitarian needs in the region are enormous. It is in this context that MSF launched its newest project in South Sudan. Responding to the needs of both the host community and displaced population, MSF is now conducting mobile clinics that travel by boat or by car to provide basic healthcare where it is most needed.

“Akobo and the nearby villages are almost entirely cut-off from reliable, quality healthcare,” says Raphael Veicht, MSF’s Head of Mission in South Sudan. “Because medical facilities in the area have been abandoned or repurposed for other uses, this already highly vulnerable population has nowhere to turn to for basic treatment,” he adds.

The medical team that left early in the morning has now arrived in Kier, an hour’s boat journey away. As usual, they bring their equipment to rest under the shade of a few favorably positioned trees. Within minutes, the place is transformed into a basic healthcare clinic with a waiting area and makeshift tents used as private consultation spaces. Patients arrive and sit quietly on mats as they prepare to have their vitals taken, while nurse assistants ready medicines prescribed by clinical officers. After only two and a half hours, nearly 30 patients have been seen.

“We’ll usually see between 50 and 60 patients a day,” says Tut Kuang Ler, MSF clinical officer. “Today, six patients tested positive for malaria, five young children have diarrhoea, and we have one case of fungal infection.”

With mobile clinics now being held in seven different locations throughout former Akobo and Ulang counties, MSF medical teams are treating over 2,000 patients per month. Meanwhile, MSF has begun building a more permanent structure in Kier; a primary healthcare facility that will be able to provide more advanced care. But for now, the teams remain mobile.

At 2:30 in the afternoon, the last of the patients have passed through the clinic. Tut Kuang Ler pauses and gives one more glance around the adjacent field, scanning for any late arrivals. None. “Time to pack up and head back to Akobo,” he says.

Since July 2014 it has been my privilege to hold the position of Executive Director with MSF in the UAE. As I reach the end of my tenure, I find myself reflecting on our work in recent months and years – on the projects that may come to define us as a medical humanitarian movement.

I joined MSF at the height of the West African ebola crisis – a tragedy of such magnitude and ferocity that it will be remembered for generations to come; in 2015, MSF’s first search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean were launched, an operation that has rescued more than 75,000 people – people desperate enough to risk their lives in flimsy boats on a treacherous and unforgiving sea crossing; I have watched with pride as our reconstructive surgery hospital in Jordan has grown – treating patients from Syria, Yemen, Iraq and more, for complicated injuries suffered as a result of war. In December,
I had the opportunity to visit our projects in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Seeing our teams in action was a reminder that our work – our medical humanitarian mission, is a lifeline to millions of people around the world.

The context surrounding each of these interventions is bleak, but looking back, I am faced not with horror, but admiration for the human spirit in the face of adversity. A common strand in every emergency I have seen, has been the willingness to overcome boundaries and divisions – to ensure that men, women and children have access to a dignified standard of healthcare, because that is what we as human beings have a right to expect.

From our patients and staff in the field, weathering crises as they occur, to our staff in headquarters, to our donors and supporters around the world, I am filled with admiration for a community working together for greater access to healthcare, and assisting others in their time of need.

I feel a great sense of pride in working for MSF, and I would like to sign off by extending my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your contribution to the MSF movement.

Yours sincerely,

Mohamed Bali

Executive Director Médecins Sans Frontières UAE

YOKOHAMA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed the announcement of a US$72.3 million contribution from the Government of Japan. The generous infusion of funding will enable WFP to provide vital food and nutrition assistance in 23 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

“WFP deeply appreciates this substantial injection of support from Japan which comes at a critical time when the organization is simultaneously responding to an unprecedented level of need for food assistance in countries such as Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Myanmar and South Sudan,” said Naoe Yakiya, Director of the WFP Japan Office. “Today, we are living in a world where 815 million people are hungry primarily due to conflicts. We are most grateful for Japan’s leadership in promoting the humanitarian-development-peace nexus through sustainable solutions that address urgent hunger needs and their underlying causes.”

More than half of the funding provided by Japan, or US$40.5 million, will support WFP operations for the most vulnerable people affected by conflict and displacement in seven countries in the Middle East. This is in line with the pledge made by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the UN Refugee Summit in September 2016 to provide US$2.8 billion in humanitarian assistance to refugees and migrants, and support to host countries and communities from 2016 to 2018.

WFP logistics operations will also benefit from Japan’s donation in Afghanistan and South Sudan, where the organization runs the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service, which provides critical air transport and cargo services for the entire humanitarian community.

Japan’s allocations to WFP operations are broken down as follows:

Yemen (US$16 million), Iraq (US$10 million), Syria (US$8.3 million), Myanmar (US$5.2 million), Somalia (US$4.5 million), South Sudan (US$4 million), Ethiopia (US$3 million), Turkey (US$2.8 million), Chad (US$2.5 million), Mali (US$2 million), Guinea (US$1.8 million), Niger (US$1.8 million), Sudan (US$1.5 million), Palestine (US$1.3 million), Afghanistan (US$1 million), Burkina Faso (US$1 million), Jordan (US$1 million), Malawi (US$1 million), Mauritania (US$1 million), Uganda (US$1 million), Sierra Leone (US$0.6 million), Swaziland (US$0.5 million), and Zimbabwe (US$0.5 million).

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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.

Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media @WFP_JP @WFPGovts

For more information please contact:

Eriha Hashimoto, WFP/Yokohama, Tel. +81 (0)3 5766 5364, Mob. +81 (0)90 9844 9990

Kosti, White Nile, 11 March (SUNA) - The Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, in the White Nile state, Abdul Gawi Hamid, said the camps of the southern Sudanese who entered the country and stayed in his region, are stable on food, security and housing requirements.

He said food and humanitarian assistance convoys are steadily reaching the camps in the state in Salam and Jabalain localities, near the borders with South Sudan, in line with presidential directive issued to the commission.

Hamid pointed out in statement to the Sudan news agency that work has started in paving the roads linking Kosti to Kuwait in the border areas with south Sudan, to help transport relief and humanitarian assistance, funded by the World Food Programme.

The road will help facilitate transportation of humanitarian assistance and the movement of persons from and to the south during the rainy season while at the same time providing infrastructure that would help the local community and the hosted communities from South Sudan.

Ma/ma

ADDIS ABABA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today announced a contribution of US$6 million from the Government of the People’s Republic of China to assist refugees and people suffering because of drought in the Somali region of Ethiopia.

“The generous contribution from the Government of China will help WFP to support millions of drought-affected people and hundreds of thousands of refugees,” said Samir Wanmali, Acting WFP Country Director in Ethiopia.

“As one of WFP’s key partners, we are extremely grateful for the commitment shown by China in helping Ethiopia to combat hunger and deprivation,” he added.

Over the last two years, China has contributed a total of US$14 million for WFP nutrition, relief and refugee programmes in Ethiopia.

With this US$6 million contribution, WFP will be able to support 350,000 people living either in refugee camps or in drought-affected communities for two months with over 4,000 metric tons of rice and 800 tons of vegetable oil.

“When disaster strikes, help should come from all sides; this is our philosophy and we think it should be the shared spirit of humanity,” said Tan Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, citing a Chinese saying. “China has come forward to demonstrate its solidarity with the Ethiopian people.”

An estimated 7.9 million people in Ethiopia currently require emergency food assistance. WFP’s focus is the Somali Region where it plans to feed 1.8 million people. WFP provides cash and food to people at risk of acute food insecurity because of climate shocks or conflict.

Ethiopia hosts the second largest number of refugees in Africa – more than 900,000 refugees mostly from Eritrea, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia. Some 650,000 refugees live in camps and depend on food assistance from WFP.

Conflict and drought in countries neighbouring Ethiopia continue to force people to seek refuge by crossing the border. In 2017, nearly 110,000 new refugees arrived in the country.

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.

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“Time is Now: press for Progress to Transform Women and Girls Living in Rural Areas’’

Under the esteemed patronage of the First Vice President of South Sudan, H.E. Taban Deng Gai, representing the President of the Republic of South Sudan, accompanied by Ministers, Special Advisers to His Excellency, the President, Members of Parliament, the UN SRSG, David Shearer, UN Women Country Representative and donors, the International Women Day celebrations in South Sudan on March 8, 2018 was marked with pomp and in colors green, purple and white by the Government of South Sudan, led by the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, with support from UN Women and other partners, including the UN Mission to South Sudan.

Women and men, including artistes, entrepreneurs, nurses, students from Midwifery Program, women and men living with disabilities, students and members of the organized forces (Army, Policy, Prisons) joined the rest of the country to mark the international women’s day, under the theme “Time is Now: press for Progress to Transform Women and Girls Living in Rural Areas’’

The First VP in his message acknowledged the contribution of UN Women in coming up with the 2018 theme is “Time is Now: Rural and Women’s Activists Transforming Women’s Lives.” He gave special appreciation to UN Women Executive Director Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka for her contribution in addressing the challenges faced by women globally, and to UN Women in alleviating the challenges often faced by women, most especially in conflict affected countries. He further stated that International Women Day should not be a one-day commemoration, but an ongoing one until women have equal opportunities with men and are out of poverty and insecurity The First Vice-President also called for the need to enhance women’s role in peace making, and that with the right support and partnerships, are best able to facilitate peace and bridge political and ethnic divides in the country.

In her speech commemorating the International Women Day, the Minister for Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Hon. Awut Deng Acuil, highlighted the persistent and emerging challenges which continue to face women and girls in South Sudan. She reiterated the need for government to increase resources to education, women’s economic activities, maternal health, and to the strengthening of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare to reduce inequalities and gender gaps faced by women and girls. The Minister for Agriculture & Food Security Hon. Onyoti Adigo Nyikwach expressed solidarity with the women and girls of South Sudan and emphasized the importance of women to national development, and promised to prioritize actions within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that will promote women’s access to assets and technology to transform their lives.

The UN SRSG, Mr. David Shearer celebrated the tremendous achievements of women in South Sudan, calling them the ‘backbone of society’. He noted that a lot still needs to be done to advance gender equality and called for action to ‘press for progress’ towards Gender Equality as women bear the most burden especially in sexual violence, displacements, forceful marriages and equally lack access to healthcare facilities. Citing Liberia as an example to draw lessons from, the UNSRG highlighted the significant role women played in peace negotiations and how this can be an inspiration for women of South Sudan.

Other Speakers with solidarity messages include: Dr. Martha Martin, Chair, Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Child, Youth and Culture, the Chairperson of South Sudan Women General Association Ms. Zainab Yassin. Other activities of the occasion included a procession by women/men from CSO, NGOs, women associations, female in uniforms the police including UNPOL and military, female in Prisons service and female in Wild life women peace mediator and school children and scouts. Cultural dances were performed by the South Sudanese as well as a Chinese cultural group. The First Vice President and guests used the opportunity of the commemoration to go around the ‘Women’s Exhibition’ where women from around the country organized an exhibition to display their goods and products, ranging from hand crafts, beads work, agricultural products and others.

The International Women Day was not only celebrated in Juba but in other parts of the country. UN Women in partnership with the International organization for migration (IOM), UNICEF, International Medical Corps and other partners commemorated the event in the Protection of Civilian Site (PoC) and in Malakal town.

In his speech governor of Central Upper Nile H.E James Tor urged the Organized Security Forces to respect women, follow the laws to protect women and girls. He reiterated the commitment of his government to continue to support initiatives for the empowerment of women and girls in the state. The State Minister of Gender, Ms. Elizabeth Choung, said she would love to see people of the state come together and not divided by some being in the POC site and others in town, because of the conflict. “I hope the coming years ahead there will be no separate celebration of the International Women Day, we should celebrate together as one people, living together in peace”.

Background

The Logistics Cluster facilitates coordination of the logistics response in support of the humanitarian community. Furthermore, it provides information management products to improve decision-making of humanitarian organisations in South Sudan. Where logistics gaps are identified, the Logistics Cluster, through its lead agency WFP, acts as a ‘provider of last resort’ by offering Common Logistics Services to support the humanitarian community in their response operations.

Operational Highlights

• In February, the Logistics Cluster facilitated air transport of 295 mt of humanitarian cargo to 23 destinations on behalf of 22 organisations.

• The Logistics Cluster facilitated road transport of 28 mt on behalf of four organisations in the Beyond Wau and Beyond Bentiu response.

• In February, in Juba, the Logistics Cluster trained 24 people from 15 organisations on the fundamentals of humanitarian logistics. Two additional trainings were held in Bentiu and in total 61 people from 34 organisations were trained. The Logistics Cluster aims at building logistics capacities amongst organisations in the country and to train 300 national staff by the end of the year.

• To maximise the use of roads during the dry season, the Logistics Cluster continues maximising the use of roads for pre-positioning during the dry season. The cluster coordinated two inter-agency convoys along the Western Corridor with 760 mt of cargo and one to Yei with 80 mt.

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) must boost efforts to protect civilians against the senseless violence that has plagued the country for over four years, and publicly report on the human rights situation, Amnesty International said today.

The UN Mission, whose mandate is set to be extended tomorrow, has a crucial role to play in providing much-needed civilian protection, and timely public reporting on the human rights situation in the country.

“With the continuing conflict and associated human rights violations in South Sudan, the possibility of civilians returning to their homes or being resettled remains remote. The Protection of Civilians (POC) sites are truly life-saving for hundreds of thousands of people in desperate need of protection,” said Dr. Joan Nyanyuki, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.

“With its work in the country set to be extended, UNMISS must continue to guarantee that the civilian protection sites remain a safe haven amid the ongoing violence.”

Amnesty International is also calling on UNMISS to continue extending their protection to civilians in other areas outside the capital affected by fighting, and where humanitarian assistance is desperately needed.

The UN Mission must also improve its ability to protect South Sudanese civilians from sexual violence crimes both within and outside civilian protection sites.

In February 2018, a UN police unit charged with providing security for a civilian protection site in Wau, South Sudan, was accused of engaging in transactional sex with women under their protection. UNMISS recalled the 46-person unit and launched investigations into their conduct.

“UNMISS must take decisive action on all human rights violations within its own ranks and hold peacekeepers accountable following these accusations of sexual exploitation and abuse,” Joan Nyanyuki said.

Background

UNMISS was originally established in 2011 with an initial mandate to help create the conditions for development in the newly-independent Republic of South Sudan. In March 2014, the Mission’s focus was shifted away from its peace and state-building functions to protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance and monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in the country.

Since the beginning of the conflict in South Sudan in December 2013, civilians have been subjected to untold suffering. Both government and opposition forces have used denial of food as a weapon of war, imposing restrictions on civilian access to food, and as a result contributing to severe food insecurity.

Despite the signing of a Cessation of Hostilities agreement on 21 December 2017, government and opposition forces have continued fighting in different pockets of the country.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please call Amnesty International’s press office in Nairobi on +254 737 197 614 or +254 20 428 3020, or email catherine.mgendi@amnesty.org

High levels of food insecurity persist in the world, due largely to conflicts and to adverse climatic shocks that are taking a toll, particularly in East African and Near East countries, where large numbers of people continue to be in need of humanitarian assistance, a new FAO report notes. Some 37 countries are in need of external assistance for food, unchanged from three months ago, according to the Crop Prospects and Food Situation report issued today.

Civil war and insecurity are direct reasons for high hunger rates in 16 of those countries, ranging from Burundi to Yemen. Conflict is displacing millions of people, hampering agricultural activities and, in many cases, also driving basic food prices up sharply, the report notes. Inflation in the Democratic Republic of Congo more than doubled in 2017 to a 42 percent annual rate. Violence has disrupted traditional trade routes around the Sahel, driving up prices, while food shortages are reported around southern and eastern Libya. Meanwhile, inadequate and erratic rainfall poses a growing threat to food security in Southern Africa as well as in Eastern Africa, where many rural households have suffered from four consecutive drought-affected agricultural seasons.

Dry weather impacts East Africa

The overall cereal output rebounded in Africa in 2017, mostly due to strong gains in Southern Africa following the sharply reduced harvest in 2016. Cereal production in East Africa, however, saw a 7.2 percent drop, leading to increased stress in various countries. Recently-concluded harvests of secondary season cereal crops are forecast to be below average in southeastern Kenya, northeastern Tanzania and southern Somalia, the report warns.

Aggregate cereal production from Somalia's "deyr" rainy season is estimated to be 20 percent below average as seasonal rains had a late start and an early cessation. A similar pattern in rainfall and yields was observed in northeastern Tanzania. South Sudan's cereal output from the 2017 planting seasons is estimated to be the smallest since the conflict started at the end of 2013.

Drought conditions in parts of Ethiopia and Somalia have eased, but not enough to fully offset accumulated deficits in soil moisture. Pasture availability is still below average and livestock body conditions are generally poor. In Kenya, seasonal rainfall was up to 80 percent below average levels, warranting close monitoring of rangeland conditions in eastern areas of the country.

Prices of staple cereals are also high in Ethiopia and the Sudan, where retail prices of sorghum, millet and wheat have doubled since last October in the majority of local markets. The price jump was triggered by the removal of government wheat subsidies, which increased demand for substitute cereals, and by weakening currencies.

Unfavourable seasonal rains in southern Madagascar are expected to result in a further drop in crop yields in 2018, which, coupled with historically high prices of rice, should put additional stress to food security conditions especially in southern areas. Elsewhere, in Southern Africa, production is expected to fall from the record highs of 2017, heightening concerns about food security, which FAO flagged in a Special Alert issued last week.

The 37 countries currently in need of external food assistance are Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Luk Riek Nyak

Traders at a protection of civilians site in Bentiu have praised United Nations peacekeepers for their speedy response after they put out a fire that threatened to raze some 120 shops with essential merchandise for the internally displaced people.

“It is our obligation as peacekeepers to protect the people. Fire is part of the threats that we have in the PoC [Protection of Civilians site],” explained Police Commanding Officer, Christopher Klomegah, whose Ghanaian Formed Police Unit in Bentiu led the firefight.

Peacekeepers from the Ghanaian Formed Police Unit, UN Police and the UN Department of Safety and Security released two water trucks that were used to immediately put out the fire.

“When something like this happens, we mobilize personnel and move quickly to surround the place to allow our water tankers to go in to the scene of the fire and put out the fire,” Klomegah explained the basic firefighting procedure, adding:

“As people were struggling to save some of their belongings it was difficult to contain the fire, so we cut them off and prevented them from getting close to the fire, and that gave us an opportunity to ably put it out.”

The chairperson of the traders’ union in the protection of civilians site, Gien Tut expressed his satisfaction with the peacekeepers’ firefighting efforts.

“The fire was very terrifying and it would have been worse than this if the UN peacekeepers had not come in on time. This is a great and positive response from UNMISS,” Gien Tut said.

Tut also expressed some of the precautions they will implement to avoid future fire outbreaks. “The trade union leadership will work collectively with UNMISS and other camp management entities to make sure that no bakery remains within the market to avoid further fire outbreak,” he said.

Simon Bol, who lost all his belongings, sadly explained how difficult it will be for him to restart his business.

“I recently brought all the goods from Juba with a lot of money, not to mention tax and transportation. Now everything is gone and this is the only source of my income to cover for school fees for my children in east Africa.”

UNMISS Relief, Integration and Protection Officer, John Gatjang said his office was “working closely with camp management, other protection partners and UN security to establish more facts in relation to the root cause of the fire incident.”

Last year, in March, more than 150 shelters and shops were burnt to ashes in different fire outbreaks as the internally displaced persons used mostly flammable materials for construction.

Bentiu is one of the regions affected by conflict in South Sudan, and with all trade routes blocked, traders risk their lives and resources to bring in goods from the capital, Juba. Sometimes they have to take the long route via Bahr El Gazal, which invites heavy taxes that supersede the actual prices of commodities procured.

KEY MESSAGES

↗ International prices of wheat and maize increased further in February, mainly supported by weather-related concerns and currency movements. Export price quotations of rice also continued to strengthen, although the increases were capped by subsiding global demand for Indica supplies.

↗ In East Africa, in the Sudan, prices of the main staples: sorghum, millet and wheat, continued to increase in February and reached record highs, underpinned by the removal of the wheat subsidies and the strong depreciation of the Sudanese Pound.

↗ In Southern Africa, in Madagascar, prices of rice hit record highs at the start of the year, as a result of tight supplies following a sharp drop in the 2017 output to a substantially below-average level and a weaker currency.

↗ In West Africa, prices of coarse grains continued to generally increase in February and reached levels above those a year earlier despite the good harvests gathered in late 2017, due to a strong demand for stock replenishment, coupled with localized production shortfalls and insecurity in some areas.

Overview

During 2017, almost 38,900 refugees were submitted by UNHCR for resettlement1 to 25 countries in Europe,2 36% more than during 2016 and over three times greater than the average rate of 12,400 submissions per year during the last decade.
Between 2007 and 2016, Europe’s proportion of resettlement sub-missions globally has increased from approximately 9% to more than 18%, and in 2017 reached 52%. This is primarily due to a significant decrease globally in new submissions for resettlement, most notably to the United States of America.

In countries affected by fragility and conflict, state institutions (i.e. public administration) co-exist among formal and informal arrangements that mirror ineffective power arrangements. These arrangements are products from protracted power struggles between elites struggling to remain in power and control the distribution of rents and resources. The challenges facing situations of fragility and violent conflict are daunting and multidimensional. The strengthening of weak public institutions to enable them to perform the core functions of government lies at the heart of the process to start restoration or reform. Indeed, the 2030 Agenda confirms that effective and legitimate institutions are central to provide a secure social, economic and political environment for the broader objectives of poverty reduction, sustaining peace and development.

This note aims to provide practitioners with useful guidance and up to date knowledge as they deliver policy and programme advice to national counterparts; and design and implement evidence-based programming to support countries in conflict-affected settings in restoring and/or reforming the civil service, which is indispensable for restoring or improving basic government functionality. The note does not aim to determine what should be done, when or for what types of governments; rather it lays out a series of priorities and concerns to keep in mind, based on UN learning from experience that will, it is hoped, enable more informed decision-making.

This guidance note was produced in consultation with members of the UN Interagency Platform on Core Government Functions (CGFs) in Countries Impacted by Fragility and Conflict (IPCGF). The Interagency Platform is co-chaired by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Department of Political Affairs and comprises of the UN Secretariat and UN agencies, funds, and programmes mandated to and involved in supporting the strengthening of CGFs in fragile and conflict-affected settings. UNDP led the development of this guidance note with the generous support of the Government of Switzerland.

Today, the United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Moustapha Soumaré, and the Minister of Interior, Hon. Michael Chienjiek Geay, broke the ground to establish South Sudan’s first Juvenile Reformatory Centre (JRC) in Juba. This project is part of ongoing technical cooperation between the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the National Prisons Service of South Sudan (NPSSS). The project will result in the conversion, renovation, and refurbishment of one of Juba Central Prison’s buildings into a fully functioning JRC. The project will be implemented by the South Sudanese NGO, Charity Aid for Development and Emergency (CADE).

For the first time in South Sudan, this JRC will allow 90 children in conflict with the law to be safely and securely housed—separate from adult offenders—while awaiting trial or serving their sentences. Providing a separate living environment for children not only complies with international best practices, but also provides a more conducive environment for children to receive the support necessary to successfully reintegrate into society.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Soumaré stated that UNMISS’ Rule of Law and Child Protection Units “stand ready to partner with the government and the NPSSS to address issues related to juvenile detention and rehabilitation”. He also promised UNMISS’ support to continue advocating for much-needed vocational skills and education training programmes that will assist the children to fully reintegrate into society. Mr. Soumaré hoped that establishing this facility in Juba will serve as a model that can be replicated to serve other children in conflict with the law in other parts of the country.

The Hon. Minister of Interior thanked UNMISS for its continuing support and underscored the importance of continuing to partner to achieve the shared vision of a safe, secure, and humane juvenile justice system. The JRC is an important milestone on this path.

As well as establishing this JRC, UNMISS’ collaboration with NPSSS includes the recent launch of a pilot project to review prolonged and arbitrary detention cases in Juba Central Prison. This project can be replicated in other prisons throughout the country to reduce cases of prolonged and arbitrary detention. In addition, UNMISS Rule of Law Unit is providing technical assistance to justice sector partners to develop legal reforms to reduce the number of persons in detention, including through exploring alternatives to detention.