Economic Security provisions in South Sudan, ICRC
Juba (ICRC) - Following the decision to extend the pre-transitional period by 100 days, peace and stability remain more than ever the prerequisites to alleviate the suffering of millions of South Sudanese. In the absence of a political solution and if high levels of violence were to return, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) would be highly concerned with their fates.
"South Sudanese need to feel safe and are living in constant uncertainty of what the future will hold. Millions of them already rely on meagre resources and they could lose the little they have left if the situation deteriorates," said James Reynolds, head of delegation for the ICRC in South Sudan.
After years of war and violence, the peace deal signed in September 2018 by the main parties to the conflict has offered most of South Sudan a welcome period of calm and the ICRC has observed small but encouraging signs of improvement in the country.
Humanitarian access has increased, food insecurity has reduced slightly, families are slowly returning home and some parts of the country are enjoying sustained stability. This has allowed the ICRC to shift part of its emergency food response toward a more sustainable approach through the distribution of seeds, tools and fishing kits.
Many South Sudanese fear the current fragile stability could be short-lived and that conflict could break out once again. In addition, recent massive flooding has put a large part of the population at risk, and while access to these communities is already complex, a resurgence in fighting could push the country back toward a humanitarian crisis of unknown magnitude.
The good news is that this year growing numbers of South Sudanese have returned home, in part because of political tensions in refugee communities, in part because of increased hopes for peace. But their situation remains dire.
"I decided to come back to my country because of the political tensions in Sudan, and I heard that peace will be implemented here," a South Sudan resident in Bentiu named Nyami told us. "Since I came my mother has been hosting me with my kids. All of us we are living in one tukul. We find it very difficult and congested to stay in this tukul, but I do not have any option."
In many cases, returning residents have found their homes looted or destroyed and therefore must rely on relatives and humanitarian aid. Edina Augustino, who returned to Yei after three years in Uganda, told us: "We have really suffered and we all want to return [to South Sudan] because staying in a foreign country is not fine."
Civilians suffer the most in conflict, and if more violence returns, it is essential that all the parties refrain from attacks against civilians and comply with international humanitarian law more broadly. The ICRC will continue its humanitarian operations to alleviate the needs of the most affected communities all over South Sudan.
For further information, please contact:Florian Seriex, ICRC Juba, +211 912 360 038Crystal Wells, ICRC Nairobi, +254 716 897 265
Newer articles:
- Can South Sudan Form a Transitional Government in 100 Days? - 10/11/2019 09:57
- 'Critical tasks' remain for transition in South Sudan - 10/11/2019 05:39
- Will the US sanction South Sudan's Kiir, Machar? - 08/11/2019 22:10
- PEACE DEAL: South Sudan’s Kiir vows to form unified army - 08/11/2019 21:37
- Exclusive: Sudan needs up to $5 billion in budget support to prevent collapse - 08/11/2019 16:11
Older news items
- South Sudan Rival Leaders Delay New Government by 100 Days - 08/11/2019 12:16
- WFP: Floods in South Sudan Affecting Nearly 1 Million People - 08/11/2019 08:37
- South Sudan and Egypt sign agreement at South Sudan Oil Power 2019 - 29/10/2019 23:36
- Bafana Bafana coach names squad to face Ghana and Sudan - 29/10/2019 21:23
- South Sudan, Egypt sign MoU deal on gas exploration deal - 29/10/2019 09:25
Latest news items (all categories):
- UAE company agreed to loan $13B to South Sudan in exchange for oil - 27/04/2024 16:44
- South Sudan auditor flags spending of IMF funds - 27/04/2024 16:41
- UN Aid Trucks Held up at South Sudan Border - 27/04/2024 16:37
- South Sudanese comedians find laughs in painful past - 27/04/2024 16:34
- The DRC had the world's biggest military spend increase last year – and South Sudan was second - 27/04/2024 16:29
Random articles (all categories):
- Tears, chants as rebel child soldiers are freed in South Sudan - 27/01/2015 18:54
- Slidell man detained in South Sudan to appear in court - News Banner - 28/11/2012 02:08
- South Sudan Conflict: Warring Sides 'Rape Children as Young as Two' - 21/10/2014 17:19
- Hon. Paul Mayom Akec on a monstrous campaign for Presidency - 06/12/2020 18:28
- East Africa talks climate change - 10/11/2022 00:07
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 31928 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 21862 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 20745 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 17300 times
- With prisons full, South Sudan to introduce mobile courts to clear backlog of cases - 11/10/2012 11:29 - Read 14214 times