Addis Ababa (AFP) - Mediators announced Monday a two-week pause for South Sudan's struggling peace talks as the civil war raged despite a ceasefire agreement and warnings of famine.
Despite heavy international pressure, a second ceasefire this month for the world's youngest nation has crumbled, in a six-month war that has already claimed thousands -- possibly tens of thousands -- of lives.
On Monday, mediators from the regional East African bloc IGAD said the two negotiation teams in the Ethiopian capital had drawn up "working documents" on how to implement the ceasefire and solve the crisis, as they announced a break until June 4.
Aid agencies have warned the young nation faces catastrophe if fighting continues amid famine and genocide warnings, while health officials last week reported at least two deaths from a much-feared cholera outbreak.
Donors will meet in Norway's capital Oslo on Tuesday to drum up funds, with UN appeals for 1.8 billion dollars (1.3 billion euros) funded only by around a third.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir told the BBC he "cannot deny" there will be famine if the war continues, which has now entered its sixth month.
[1]Map locating Bentiu, a key oil town in South Sudan (AFP Photo/)
"We have to stop this fighting so that we save the people’s lives, for people not to die of hunger," he said in a BBC interview broadcast Monday.
The conflict started with Kiir accusing former vice president Riek Machar of attempting a coup. Machar then fled to the bush to launch a rebellion, insisting the president had attempted to carry out a bloody purge of his rivals.
The war in the world's youngest nation has claimed thousands -- possibly tens of thousands -- of lives, with more than 1.3 million people forced to flee their homes.
Oxfam’s South Sudan country director Cecilia Milan said in a statement Monday aid workers "must act now to prevent a rapidly escalating food crisis", as well as raising concern of the cholera outbreak, with 138 cases recorded.
The International Rescue Committee said it had already recorded malnutrition rates in some war-zone regions double the level classed by the UN as "critical".
"Even if there were a total end to the fighting, the humanitarian needs created by the last five months are enormous," IRC president David Miliband said.
- Politics & Government
- South Sudan
References
- ^ Map locating Bentiu, a key oil town in South Sudan (news.yahoo.com)
Source http://news.yahoo.com/south-sudan-peace-talks-pause-two-weeks-150633596.html
Newer articles:
- Sudan economy keeps struggling as war rages in South - 20/05/2014 23:18
- South Sudan: Aid for South Sudan - Too Little Too Late? - 20/05/2014 21:33
- South Sudan: Food Shortage Forces Hundreds of Refugees Back Into Sudan - 20/05/2014 17:10
- South Sudan war to drag on without regional intervention: Uganda - 20/05/2014 15:31
- South Sudan: IRC - Be Generous to South Sudan - 20/05/2014 11:24
Older news items
- Salva Kiir: Fighting Must Stop to Avert South Sudan Famine Disaster - 19/05/2014 14:49
- South Sudan loses 1st ever qualifier 5-0 - 19/05/2014 11:44
- Oil fans flames of South Sudan war - 18/05/2014 16:52
- South Sudan not losing its vision over differences, says Kiir - 17/05/2014 06:00
- South Sudan: New interactive conflict map highlights urgent need to protect civilians - 16/05/2014 16:49
Latest news items (all categories):
- How Collo’s Selfish Education Negatively Affects Society - 17/05/2025 21:06
- Museveni Launches Regional Road Project Linking Uganda, South Sudan & Central African Republic - 17/05/2025 20:08
- AMECEA And SSSCBC Host Three-Day Constitution Review Workshop in South Sudan - 17/05/2025 20:03
- ‘Knives Are Out’ in South Sudan as Vice President Is Held in Detention - 17/05/2025 19:09
- UN Security Council Should Renew South Sudan Arms Embargo - 17/05/2025 19:03
Random articles (all categories):
- US asks UN to blacklist six in South Sudan - 27/05/2018 17:45
- UN urges more high-profile rape trials in South Sudan - 09/08/2022 08:20
- For Episcopal priest going to South Sudan, sewing is a mission - Columbia Missourian - 18/11/2012 16:59
- South Sudan: Murle Revenge Attack On Luo-Nuer 'Kills 60' in Jonglei's Akobo County - 09/01/2012 10:00
- South Sudan women urge political leaders to implement peace deal - 02/12/2019 17:04
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 104353 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22658 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 22109 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 21092 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19560 times