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On World Humanitarian Day, we stage a global race to highlight the human toll of the global climate emergency
This year’s World Humanitarian Day theme is - #TheHumanRace, a global race for climate action for people who need it most. South Sudan is ranked among the five
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Press Release
20 August 2021
On World Humanitarian Day, South Sudan’s Humanitarian Country Team warns of a climate emergency and calls for an end to violence against aid workers in South Sudan
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19 August 2021
On World Humanitarian Day, we stage a global race to highlight the human toll of the global climate emergency
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Press Release
06 August 2021
Thousands of people suffering the impact of flooding
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The Sustainable Development Goals in South Sudan
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are also the goals the UN is working for in South Sudan:
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08 March 2021
UN Agencies partners with the Government of South Sudan to Implement a project on Enhancing Community Resilience and Local Governance
UNOPS and IOM in partnership with the Government of South Sudan have started the implementation of the USD 45m Enhancing Community Resilience and Local Governance Project (ECRP). The project aims to address immediate needs for basic services throughout the country.
Funded by the World Bank, International Development Association (IDA), ECRP will cover about one fourth of the country, geographically, benefitting an estimated 630,000 people. In addition to the 10 counties selected for ‘quick wins’.
The Quick wins are sub-projects that were committed to be delivered during the Local Government and Service Delivery Project (LGSDP), which was implemented between 2014-2019. These sub-projects now are main components of the ECRP as foundations for local institutions strengthening in South Sudan. The ECRP will scale up these efforts, with a focus on conflict-affected and vulnerable areas. The project will support around 10 vulnerable counties in South Sudan, identified through the World Bank’s Vulnerability Index. It will focus on those areas that were heavily conflict affected, food insecure, exposed to natural hazards, and facing increased demand for basic services due to high concentration of returnees. The project will address the needs of 630,000 people approximately 50 percent of whom are women, across 10 states, 20 out of 79 counties, who are expected to directly benefit from project investments and support.
“ECRP will improve the provision of basic service delivery, particularly in vulnerable areas that were affected by the conflict, high concentration of returnees, and natural hazards such as flood. The project will also contribute to social cohesion among different groups in our country.” said Hon. Clement Khamis, Chairperson of the Local Governance Board.
The project has secured endorsement from the relevant government authorities at the national and state levels.
“The World Bank, UNOPS and IOM are partners of choice to the government of South Sudan and Central Equatorial State in particular,” said Hon. Emmanuel Adil Anthony, Governor of Central Equatoria during the ECRP introduction meeting at the Governor's office on December 9, 2021. He stated that the government will continue to support the project in consultation with the relevant line ministries, especially in the Central Equatorial State.
A project MoU was signed with the Ministry of Finance and Planning. A Project Steering Committee and National Technical Working Group have been established to provide oversight to the project. These are chaired by Under Secretary and the Director General respectively of both the Ministry of Finance and Planning and with membership from relevant Ministries such as local Government Board (LGB); Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare (MoGCSW); andSouth Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC).
“UNOPS combines its strong Infrastructure expertise by applying a systematic community engagement approach that will see the project involve all levels of the formal and community institutions from the National through to the Payams and Bomas in consultative and inclusive processes to effectively deliver the project to meet the needs and aspirations of the people of South Sudan. UNOPS is grateful for the trust and confidence the Government of South Sudan has placed on it and its implementing partner the IOM, said Peter Mutoredzanwa, UNOPS Country Director and Representative to South Sudan.
“IOM is very proud and grateful to have been chosen as one of the two UN agencies to implement this project. While there is no question that there will be a continued need for emergency humanitarian assistance in South Sudan, it is critical for the future of the country that resources are increasingly allocated to projects like this, which focus on improving resilience and services at the community-level. This, together with continued peace and a reduction in violence, is the best way of ensuring a future where people will no longer need to rely on aid for their survival. IOM is committed to use its grassroots-level presence across the country, the knowledge and expertise of its teams on the ground to, together with the Government of South Sudan, the World Bank and UNOPS, ensure that this project will be a success” said Peter Van der Auweraert, IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission.
The International Development Association (IDA) is the World Bank’s fund for the poorest. Established in 1960, it provides grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa.
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13 January 2021
UN and humanitarian partners come together to respond to the devastating floods of 2020
Over a million people were affected by flooding in 2020 and entire communities, mostly in areas along the Nile, fled to higher ground to escape the flood waters. Close to half a million people were displaced, with women and children most affected. In August, the Government declared a state of emergency in flood-affected areas. People in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, were hardest hit by the flooding and were already vulnerable, having earlier been displaced by sub-national violence.
Villages and people’s homes were submerged by the flood waters, destroying people’s crops and killing their livestock. Infrastructure and public facilities did not escape the waters. Hundreds of schools and health and nutrition centers were damaged, compromising essential services to communities. Key immediate needs of flood-affected people included food, water purification tablets, plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, mosquito nets, fishing kits, basic health items and the replenishment of medicine, nutritional supplies and dignity kits.
Coordinated by OCHA, humanitarian response operations were scaled up from July onward to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people, with funding from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund and the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, among other sources. Using limited resources, people were provided with emergency flood response kits. Hundreds of thousands of people were reached with food assistance and livelihood support. Displaced people received plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene support, and protection services.
Humanitarian organizations on the ground – most of them South Sudanese – worked tirelessly as the needs rose along with the flood waters, but faced many challenges. Flood response activities were constrained by insecurity that forced some local partners to put the flood response on hold. Persistent heavy rains made roads impassable and flooded airstrips, putting an extra burden on transporting aid to where it was needed the most.
The waters are now slowly receding, but people’s needs still remain. The United Nations, non-governmental organizations and the local authorities continue to work together to help flood-affected people return to their homes and livelihoods as soon as possible. Further investments will be required in 2021 to strengthen people’s capacity to cope with recurring shocks, including flooding.
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22 December 2020
UN agencies’ alarm at worsening hunger in South Sudan
Three United Nations organizations are calling for immediate humanitarian access to parts of South Sudan’s Pibor County in Jonglei State, where people have run out of food and are facing catastrophic levels of hunger according to a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released today.
The high levels of hunger are being driven by insecurity, the effects of COVID-19, the economic crisis, and the impact of flooding on livelihoods, the report said. Humanitarian assistance is needed to save lives and avert a total collapse of livelihoods in hard-to-reach areas.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are scaling up their response, along with other humanitarian aid organizations.
“We call on all parties to stop the violence and to ensure safe humanitarian access in order to prevent an already dire situation from turning into a full-blown catastrophe,” FAO Representative in South Sudan Meshack Malo said.
“We are extremely concerned about the increased numbers of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. These children need urgent treatment to prevent them from dying. The data leave us with no doubt about the sense of urgency for all of us - Government, donor community and humanitarian actors - to join hands and ensure all these children get the treatment they need. At the same time, we need to invest more in actions to prevent children from becoming malnourished in the first place,” UNICEF Representative in South Sudan Mohamed Ayoya said.
“WFP is extremely worried about the rising numbers of people suffering because of the lack of sufficient food and nutrition, intensified conflict, unprecedented flooding and high food prices. The coming year will be extremely tough, but we are determined to do all we can to reach more people for longer periods of time," said Makena Walker, Deputy Country Director of the World Food Programme in South Sudan.
Extreme hunger in parts of Pibor county
Figures in today’s report estimate that between October and November, 6.5 million people in South Sudan faced severe acute food insecurity and are in need of urgent assistance. This number is projected to grow to 7.24 million between April and July 2021.
Today’s report comes after two independent reports published by the IPC Global Support Unit last week which indicated that tens of thousands of people are likely to face famine conditions in Pibor county. In this situation, many families are experiencing high levels of acute malnutrition and even mortality. In another five counties (Akobo, Aweil South, Tonj East, Tonj North and Tonj South), some communities are facing catastrophic conditions, the independent analysis found.
Around 1.4 million children aged between 6 months and 5 years are expected to be acutely malnourished in 2021 and will need life-saving treatment, according to today’s report. This includes 313 000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and more than a million children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition. At the same time, 483 000 pregnant or breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished and in need of treatment.
Emergency response
WFP has already begun scaling up its lifesaving food and nutritional assistance to critically food insecure areas in Pibor County as well as other areas of concern, extending its humanitarian response beyond the usual lean season and increasing the number of vulnerable people who need support. In the past two months, WFP has extended its food assistance to nearly 80,000 people in Pibor County. Meanwhile, in Akobo East more than 40,000 people are currently receiving food assistance. WFP will continue to scale up its emergency food response working with partners to build community resilience and development. In total, WFP has provided food assistance to five million people in need in South Sudan in 2020.
UNICEF will further scale up its interventions supporting therapeutic treatment and stabilization centres in the most affected counties to protect and save children’s lives. This year, UNICEF has already treated 170,000 children affected by severe acute malnutrition, with a 94 per cent recovery rate. Further expansion of services is now urgently needed - including to insecure areas - for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition. UNICEF will continue to address the underlying causes of malnutrition such as malaria and diarrheal diseases caused by a lack of clean water, sanitation and hygiene, and investing in prevention of malnutrition through promotion of breastfeeding and good feeding practices for the young child.
FAO’s priority is to assist farming and agro-pastoral communities to increase their production and preserve their livelihoods. So far in 2020, over 100 000 farming families have received support to grow their own food from seeds, and more than 5 million animals have been vaccinated and treated to assist 164 000 households. FAO has also distributed 800 tonnes of emergency animal feed for critical animal stocks, especially in flood-affected locations.
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19 August 2021
On World Humanitarian Day, we stage a global race to highlight the human toll of the global climate emergency
Every year on 19 August, World Humanitarian Day (WHD), we commemorate humanitarian workers who work tirelessly to reach millions of crisis-affected people - women, men, boys, girls, older persons and persons with disability - with assistance and protection. We advocate for their well-being and dignity.
The UN Secretary-General refers to 2021 as the world’s ‘make-or-break year’, and he is calling for a ‘major breakthrough’ to slow the pace of climate change and build resilience to protect the most vulnerable people from increasingly severe and frequent climate impacts. We are joining his push to create a greener, safer, more resilient world.
This year’s World Humanitarian Day theme is - #TheHumanRace, a global race for climate action for people who need it most. South Sudan is ranked among the five countries in the world who is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The country regularly experiences torrential rains, seasonal flooding and drought. The climate emergency impacts on the most vulnerable people. The effects of climate change are already visible as bouts of widespread and severe flooding affect people year on year. Last year, more than a million people were severely impacted by a second consecutive year of major flooding, with women and children most affected. For many people, their overall food security situation has worsened, and some communities were now facing catastrophic needs.
Climate change also contributes to livestock mortality and a decline in the amount and viability of land farmers can cultivate and reduced harvests. The traditional seasonal migration routes of pastoralists are affected by the changes to the climate and are further disrupted by and contribute to conflict. At times when searching for pasture and water for their livestock, pastoralists bring their herds into established farming communities leading to conflict over increasingly scarce resources.
Already vulnerable people of South Sudan are suffering from the direct and indirect effects of climate change—from flooding to violence derived by competition over limited resources. As humanitarian needs are growing, humanitarians work around the clock to address them, however, insecurity, violence, attacks against humanitarian personnel and assets, and looting of humanitarian supplies have significantly impacted a much-needed response to people.
Since March, there has been a rise in the number of attacks against aid workers, people serving the community, and assets across South Sudan. Recently, aid workers have been attacked and assets looted in a number of locations across the country. Every day, aid workers are risking their lives to provide assistance to the most in need in South Sudan. Four aid workers have been killed this year, bringing the number of aid workers killed since 2013 when conflict broke out to 128.
The trend of increased violence against communities, humanitarian organizations and assets cannot continue. We must be able to safely reach people in remote and highly food-insecure areas without the threat of attack. Time is already running out for millions of the most vulnerable people – those who have contributed least to the climate emergency but are hit the hardest. On WHD in South Sudan, we take the opportunity to highlight the vital work of all humanitarian workers and call on authorities to make every effort to protect communities, humanitarian personnel and assets across the country.
#WorldHumanitarianDay #NotATarget #TheHumanRace
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26 July 2021
South Sudan marks a decade of sovereignty
Ten years ago, the people of South Sudan set out on a path of self-rule and independence with the promise of a better future. Many challenges ensued, and progress towards nationhood was stifled by recurring cycles of conflict and incalculable loss of life. In addition to widespread internal displacement, 2.2 million people were forced to flee to neighbouring countries, placing South Sudan in the top five refugee producing countries in the world.
The 9 July Independence Anniversary is a significant milestone, not only for the country, but also because of its relationship with the United Nations, which began five days after the attainment of independence in 2011. Notwithstanding the many challenges faced over the years, the United Nations has provided unwavering humanitarian and development assistance that has been a crucial lifeline for millions of people in South Sudan and saved countless lives.
To continue providing lifesaving and lifechanging interventions in South Sudan, it is paramount that aid workers can work in a safe and secure humanitarian space, free of targeted attacks which inevitably undermines access to vulnerable populations in need of assistance.
As we look to the future, South Sudan can take pride that it has secured its place as a sovereign UN State among the family of independent nations.
The UN in South Sudan will continue to stand with all South Sudanese in pursuit of a peaceful, prosperous, and stable nation and looks forward to continued close and positive partnership in the years to come.
It is also essential that the international community to look forward, and to help stabilize South Sudan by supporting solutions for displaced communities and scale-up sustainable development, while maintaining a robust emergency response capacity. We, therefore, need to do more to reimagine and recommit efforts towards the country’s peace, development, and future.
The United Nations Country Team takes this opportunity to convey to all South Sudanese citizens at home and abroad, its best wishes for health, happiness, peace, and prosperity on the occasion of the 10 years anniversary.
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29 June 2021
Together we heal, learn and shine.
Ten years ago, a nation was born, shining but asunder. South Sudan was on the map, but millions were on the wrong sides of the borderline. Over the past decade, the nation has lurched from hope to strife, and back again. But if the pain of exile and displacement has been a constant, so too has the generosity of hosts towards refugees.
We commemorate World Refugee Day each year on 20 June, a date chosen in tribute to the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention, and a fitting honour to the African framework and practice of opening their arms to refugees. South Sudan, with limited resources and nascent institutions, has nonetheless been an exemplar of this enlightened approach; and South Sudanese outside their country have benefited from their neighbours’ kindness. Sprawling and protracted displacement is a hallmark of this sub-region, but the South Sudan model shows that with pain and misfortune comes also the chance to heal, to learn and to shine.
On this World Refugee Day 2021, UNHCR South Sudan pays tribute to the strength of the millions forced to flee their homes; to the openness and compassion of those who host them; to the labour of those who work to protect and aid them; and to the donors who fund our programmes. Sometimes it seems that there is an abundance of bad news coming out of this country. But the story of displacement in and around South Sudan is one of consistent compassion in the face of tragedy, which the international community can acknowledge with humility and appreciation.
Globally, the number of displaced people reached 82.4 million in 2020, reflecting a trend of unending displacement driven by violence and persecution. Here in South Sudan, UNHCR and South Sudan’s Commission for Refugee Affairs have registered close to 320,000 refugees, 93 per cent of whom are Sudanese. A further 1.3 million people are displaced internally in the country. And South Sudan’s refugee population remains the largest in Africa with over 2.2 million South Sudan refugees hosted by the Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
South Sudan is generous to refugees in both law and practice. It has signed on to all the relevant refugee protection instruments, and it operates some of the most progressive refugee policies in the region. Despite its own enormous socio-economic, security and political challenges, South Sudan has always kept its borders open, allowed freedom of movement and furthermore allocated large tracts of fertile land to refugees for farming.
Just this week, I travelled with the Foreign Minister, the Commissioner for Refugee Affairs and the donor community to Maban, the site of camps hosting over 100,000 Sudanese refugees. We witnessed the incredible achievement of Dr Evan Atar, who has used prize money from the prestigious Nansen award to the construct a maternity wing. What a story — a South Sudanese from Eastern Equatoria, exiled for many years, now giving back to his people in Upper Nile State. Each brick represented an investment in the Bunj community’s health, and its completion marks a further step in the process of healing following this difficult period.
South Sudan cannot manage this alone, and moving forward we need to reimagine and recommit. Reimagine refugee camps as places to heal and to learn, and reimagining a country where returning South Sudanese refugees (over 400,000 have already come home, spontaneously) are voting with their feet for peace. We at UNHCR South Sudan believe that refugee camps and counties to which refugees are returning can represent pockets of hope, places where people are making peace, and where money spent is money invested in the peaceful, green future of South Sudan. Together with our government and international partners, we are modelling a pocket of hope approach that takes as a starting point refugee and returnee agency, and as its end-point areas where all people regardless of status have a chance at integration and economic progress.
Enabling refugees and internally displaced to sustain themselves, will not only allow them to give back to host communities, but support their eventual return and cement the path to peace. Investing in South Sudan’s future will pay long-term dividends not only for refugees, South Sudanese but also the wider region. We hope that this can help activate the third element of our World Refugee Day theme, and enable displaced people to shine.
On this World Refugee Day 2021 we acknowledge the experiences of the millions of people forced to flee violence and persecution. But we also celebrate the fact that, with help from welcoming communities, kind neighbours and international support, people can find the strength to heal, learn and even shine.
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01 July 2021
“A country cannot develop without empowering women,” says World Bank Regional Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa
The World Bank Regional Vice President (RVP) for Eastern and Southern Africa, Hafez Ghanem, visited Buluk Quarter Council in Juba Municipality on his first official mission to South Sudan, where he heard first-hand testimonies from beneficiaries and community committees on the impact of the World Bank-funded South Sudan Safety Net Project (SSSNP) on people’s lives.
Implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), in partnership with the Government of the Republic of South Sudan, the SSSNP provides low-income and vulnerable households across 10 counties in South Sudan with cash assistance to meet their urgent needs and invest in their household welfare.
Ousmane Dione, World Bank Country Director for Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Sudan; Hon. Josephine Joseph Lagu, the National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security; Hon. Lily Kapuki Jurkin, the Central Equatoria State Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Forestry, John Ogoto Kanisio, Undersecretary of Ministry of Agriculture and Food Insecurity and Husam Abudagga, World Bank Country Manager for South Sudan accompanied the RVP during the site visit, which provided an eye-opening experience on how the SSSNP is helping to rebuild lives and livelihoods of the communities.
Speaking at the event, the World Bank Regional Vice President Hafez Ghanem, expressed his appreciation for the partnership between the World Bank, UNOPS and the South Sudan Government towards addressing economic vulnerabilities in the country. “I am happy to hear that you have used the money to buy food for your families, pay school fees for your children and invest some of it in sustainable businesses. You are responsible citizens, mothers and leaders of your community. A country cannot develop without empowering women,” he said.
The National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Josephine Joseph Lagu, appreciated the support from the World Bank and UNOPS towards transforming the lives of the poor in South Sudan. “With the cash they received they have done a lot for their families. This is remarkable and we greatly appreciate them for this. This is the spirit we’d like to cultivate in our people,” she said.
The Central Equatoria State Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Forestry Hon. Lily Kapuki Jurkin thanked the World Bank and UNOPS for involving the state government in the implementation of the project and for building the capacity of government institutions to implement similar projects in future. “We appreciate your efforts in building the capacity of government institutions to be confident and capable of delivering services to the people of South Sudan,” she said.
The Acting Head of Programmes of UNOPS and Senior Project Manager of the SSSNP, Leslie Mhara said after the visit, “In order to tackle the impact of COVID- 19 and foster economic recovery, UNOPS is committed to working with the World Bank and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan. Cash transfers present a cost-efficient way to support the most vulnerable, contributing to market systems by increasing the purchasing power of community members.”
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ms. Josephine Justin Ladu, a widow and sole breadwinner for her family, appreciated the assistance from the project, “The project started during COVID-19 pandemic, a period when life was extremely hard. Most women struggled to take care of their families. From the project, I was able to put food on the table and started a small business to sustain my family. I also used the money to buy materials to teach my daughters beadwork so that they will cater for some of their scholastic needs.”
The SSSNP targets poor and vulnerable households, especially those headed by women. So far, the project has distributed cash to over 15,000 households in Juba and will reach 50,000 additional households in the coming months in Pibor, Bor, Tonj South, Kapoeta East, Gogrial West, Torit, and 3 new counties yet to be identified.
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01 June 2021
After 14 months, schools in South Sudan reopen
Monday 3 May was a special day for millions of children in South Sudan. Schools finally reopened their doors after more than 14 months of closures because of COVID-19. On that day the Vice-President of South Sudan, and the Minister of General Education and Instruction rang the bell in Juba Boys Primary School. Several UN agencies, Embassies as well as education actors were represented at the event.
With the closure of schools, from one day to another, the number of out of school children in South Sudan had almost doubled. Before the pandemic, 2.8 million children were out of school due to poverty, inequalities, cultural beliefs and nomadic lifestyles. With the closures of schools an additional 2 million children were out of school. The closure ended up being a huge blow for education, but more than anything it turned into a child rights crisis.
There are reports of children having been engaged in child labour, children roaming the markets looking for work and opportunities, children joining gangs and engaged in crime and substance abuse. Moreover, girls have been hit the hardest. Numerous reports speak about child marriages and early pregnancies due to girls being out of school and increased gender-based violence.
The Ministry of General Education and Instruction, UN and other education partners launched a distance learning programme through radio providing lessons twice a day as a way for children to continue learning and to stay engaged while home to prevent some of the adverse effects we saw. However, nothing can replace face-to face education. The remote learning programme remained a temporary solution and the need for the reopening of schools became imminent.
Ensuring children resume schooling has important benefits beyond academic learning. Schools are safe places for children where they are protected from exploitation, abuse and from harmful cultural practices such as child marriage and early pregnancies. Schools allow children to access basic services including clean water, health and in many cases also food.
As schools have now resumed, it is important to monitor how many children effectively returned to the education facilities. The longer children are out of school, the harder it is to get them back. This is especially true for girls. A lot of the girls who got pregnant or were married off will most likely never return. A special emphasis should go to support their return to schools.
As we move ahead it is important to remember how the closure of schools has severely impacted on the well being of children and on the country, and to avoid any new school closures in the future.
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Press Release
20 August 2021
On World Humanitarian Day, South Sudan’s Humanitarian Country Team warns of a climate emergency and calls for an end to violence against aid workers in South Sudan
(Juba, 19 August 2021) Every year on World Humanitarian Day (WHD), we commemorate humanitarian workers who work tirelessly to reach millions of crisis-affected people with assistance and protection. Humanitarians work on the frontlines of crises, getting aid and protection to those in need. Today, those front-lines include not only battlefields, but the flood plains and the scorched landscapes of the global climate emergency, whose effects are painfully apparent in South Sudan. Climate change fuels conflict over shrinking resources and puts humanitarians in harm’s way. South Sudan’s Humanitarian Country Team calls for determined and collective climate action, and a firm end to violence against civilians and aid workers.
“South Sudan is ranked among the five countries in the world most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and populations across the country are already suffering the impacts with devastating consequences, including disaster displacement,” said Arafat Jamal, the Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim for South Sudan.
“Vulnerable populations are on the frontlines of the climate emergency, and are being battered by cycles of disasters, further eroding their ability to recover and rebuild their lives.”
South Sudan regularly experiences torrential rains, seasonal flooding and locust infestation in parts of the country – and it is its most vulnerable people who suffer the effects in life changing ways. Last year, more than a million people were impacted by a second consecutive year of major flooding, with women and children most affected. This year the effects continue to be felt, with a worsening food security situation and some communities are now facing catastrophic needs. The levels of food insecurity and malnutrition are at the highest since independence ten years ago.
“Flooding is not a new phenomenon in South Sudan, described biblically as the ‘nation whose land the rivers have spoiled’, Jamal observed. What is new is the intensity and frequency of inundation, colliding with conflict fueled migration patterns that have led communities to seek safety from violence on riverbanks, leaving them exposed to rising waters.
“Two weeks ago I visited Ayod County, I spoke to flood-affected communities who told me that the waters from last years disaster had yet to fully recede before new flooding took place. With their fields waterlogged and their livestock marooned on small islands, they collapse into a state of humanitarian need, where the basics of survival food, health, clean drinking water — must be provided.”
And yet, while the climate emergency becomes more acute in South Sudan, including an intensification and frequency of extreme weather, the very people responding with life-saving assistance are facing increasingly dangerous conditions. Every day, aid workers, most of whom are South Sudanese, find themselves in the crosshairs of violent action, and every day, they are risking their lives to provide assistance to the most vulnerable people in need in South Sudan. Since March 2021, there has been a rise in the number of attacks against aid worker who serve the community. Ambushes and attacks on clearly marked humanitarian convoys including ambulances also increased. Four aid workers were killed carrying out their duties this year. Their deaths bring the number of aid workers killed in South Sudan since 2013 when conflict broke out to 128. Most were South Sudanese.
“Today we pause to remember all humanitarian and aid workers whose lives were taken from them in the course of their humanitarian work,” Jamal said. “We also salute the courage of humanitarian workers serving in isolated and insecure locations, doing crucial and lifesaving work.”
When aid workers are endangered or under attack, vulnerable people who need food, health services, access to clean water, nutrition and education services, are deprived of the much needed help.
“The trend of increased violence against humanitarian workers, civilians and assets cannot continue, and is a violation of international humanitarian law. Humanitarian workers must be able to safely reach people in remote and highly food-insecure areas and those in conflict- or flood-affected areas without the threat of attack,” added Jamal.
“Time is already running out for millions of the most vulnerable people here – those who have contributed least to the climate emergency but are hit the hardest,” concluded the Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim in South Sudan. “World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity for all to re-commit to the values that underpin humanitarianism.”
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Press Release
06 August 2021
Thousands of people suffering the impact of flooding
On 4 August, a mission comprising of humanitarian representatives and government officials from Juba and Bor visited Ayod and Canal counties to understand the impacts of the ongoing flooding and support required to assist the people. During the mission, local authorities reported that upwards of 70,000 people have been affected by flooding in Ayod and Canal counties. For many, this is the second time they have faced flooding since May.
“Intense and unrelenting for two years, the flooding is seriously degrading the ability of the people to cope and survive. Tens of thousands of people have been impacted,” Arafat Jamal, the Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim in South Sudan, said.
“What is occurring in Ayod is a distressing example of how a changing climate disrupts the normal patterns and intensifies the effects of flooding, leaving people disoriented and dispossessed. The people we met in Ayod and Canal faced acute humanitarian needs, yet their thoughts were directed to their brethren across the river, marooned on islands surrounded by water, sheltering under trees and unable to cross to safety,” the Humanitarian Coordinator added
“I met with community leaders and women representatives, who told me that people have been arriving in search of safety daily as waters rise. This has placed increased pressure on their already meagre resources with communities surviving on fish and indigestible grasses. Urgent food assistance, shelter, kitchen items, medicines and access to clean water are especially needed,” Mr. Jamal stated.
Mr. Jamal pledged the support of the humanitarian community in favour of the flood affected people. A joint humanitarian team is in the process of providing for the basic needs of flood survivors in Ayod and beyond. ‘The imperative right now is to alleviate suffering, which we shall do with the resources at our disposal. But we must also help communities to adapt to change, and we are also investing in longer term interventions, such as dyke building, that will help communities to better withstand recurring climate shocks.’
The Humanitarian Coordinator noted that the situation witnessed in Ayod is just one example of the multiple reports received from across the country of people impacted by flooding thus far in 2021. Mr. Jamal pledged humanitarian support and called for increased investment in flood mitigation measures.
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Press Release
08 July 2021
South Sudan marks a decade of sovereignty
The United Nations in South Sudan stands with all South Sudanese in pursuit of a peaceful, prosperous, and stable nation despite the many challenges the country has faced since independence in 2011.
The 9th of July Independence Anniversary is a significant milestone, not only for the country, but also because of its relationship with the United Nations, which began five days after the attainment of independence in 2011. The United Nations has continued to seek partnerships and cooperative arrangements with the government based on common values.
Ten years ago, the people of South Sudan set out on a path of self-rule and independence with the promise of a better future. Many challenges ensued, and progress towards nationhood was stifled because of recurring conflict and the incalculable loss of life. Opportunities for a smooth transition to peace to enable the people of the world’s youngest nation to achieve their economic, social and political aspirations, were missed.
“However, despite some lost opportunities, it is never too late to invigorate the peace process so that humanitarian assistance is more effective, and conditions are created where development activities can have broader and greater impact,” said Matthew Hollingworth, outgoing RC/HC a.i. and WFP Representative in South Sudan.
Notwithstanding the many challenges faced over the years, the United Nations has provided unwavering humanitarian assistance, aid, and development assistance that has been a crucial lifeline for millions of people in South Sudan. Each year, the South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan guides hundreds of humanitarian organizations to save lives and protect people; ensure people’s access to basic services; and enable people to recover from the crisis.
To continue providing lifesaving and lifechanging interventions in South Sudan, it is paramount that aid workers can work in a safe and secure humanitarian space, free of targeted attacks which inevitably undermines access to vulnerable populations in need of assistance.
As we look to the future, South Sudan can take pride that it has secured its place as a sovereign UN State among the family of independent nations. The UN in South Sudan looks forward to continued close and positive partnership arrangements in the years to come.
‘A decade of providing humanitarian assistance the needy, the threatened and the displaced has saved countless lives in this new nation,’ said the incoming RC/HC a.i and UNHCR Representative, Arafat Jamal. ‘Now, the international community must look forward, to help stabilize South Sudan by supporting solutions and sustainable development, while maintaining a robust emergency response capacity.’
The United Nations Country Team takes this opportunity to convey to all South Sudanese citizens at home and abroad, its best wishes for health, happiness, peace, and prosperity on this historic day.
ENDS
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Press Release
17 February 2021
The Deputy Representative of the Secretary General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (DSRSG/RC/HC) in South Sudan strongly condemns the attack on a vehicle with polio supplies in Malek
The attack took place on Sunday 14 February in Malek in Lakes State. The vehicle was hired by the Lakes’ State Ministry of Health and was traveling with a polio vaccination team and supplies from Rumbek Centre to Rumbek North. The attack carried out in Malek by unknown men, left three people dead, four wounded and one missing feared dead. The motive behind the attack remains unclear.
The vehicle was carrying Information, Education and Communication material to sensitize the population about polio vaccination, as well as polio vaccines and packs.
“This violent attack is unacceptable. It compromises the ability of health workers to provide assistance to communities impacted by the ongoing polio outbreak,” said Mr. Alain Noudéhou, DSRSG/RC/HC. Our thoughts are with the people who have been affected by this attack and with the families of the victims.
UNICEF and the World Health Organisation are supporting the Ministry of Health in South Sudan to respond to a polio outbreak that started in September 2020 and has affected all the states in the country. The nation-wide vaccination campaign starting from Feb 16, is the second vaccination round since the outbreak started.
The campaign will cover all 10 states in South Sudan, except six counties in Western Equatoria (Yambio, Nzara, Tambula, Nagero, Mvolo, and Ezo) which was covered in the November and December 2020 rounds. All under-five children in the country are targeted in the campaign.
The UN in South Sudan reiterates their gratitude to the thousands of health workers involved in the polio vaccination campaigns.
For more information please contact:
Poni Allen Ladu, Communication and advocacy Officer, Office of the Resident Coordinator
Telephone: +211928066318, Email poni.allen@un.org
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Press Release
07 July 2020
The Government of South Sudan and the United Nations Country Team meets to review implementation of the United Nations Cooperation Framework and discuss joint priorities
The meeting also discussed common challenges and opportunities for recovery and resilience including the response to the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis and priorities for the transitional period.
“Strengthening governance systems, providing social services rebuilding livelihoods and empowering women and the youth are critical to achieve recovery and development in South Sudan” said Alain Noudehou, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the United Nations to share experiences, achievements and lessons learned from the implementation of the UNCF in 2019 and to engage with government on the 2020-21 UNCF priority areas. It also provided an opportunity to discuss government’s priorities to achieve R-ARCSS implementation. These include; responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with and emphasis on both the public health and the need to plan for socio-economic recovery; ensuring strong coordination to implement the provisions of the R-ARCSS; reviewing and implementing the National Development Strategy; and undertaking key PFM reforms.
The participants discussed how to align the UNCF with national priorities for the transitional period and agree on joint priorities.
“South Sudan has experienced several shocks in the last twelve months from locusts, floods, COVID-19 pandemic to the fall in prices of oil at global market. This has affected the capacity of the government to implement the provisions of the R-ARCSS as planned. Today’s discussion is an opportunity for us to review progress in terms of results and timeliness” said Hon. Salvatore Garang Mabiordit, Minister of Finance and planning.
The current COVID- 19 pandemic and its associated impacts, coupled with the expected return of the displaced populations, increases the need for security and provision of social services including quality health care, education, social services, and improving livelihoods. It is therefore important for development partners in South Sudan to work with the government and strengthen joint efforts and ensure that services reach all areas including the hard to reach areas and those adversely affected by conflict.
The recent flooding, the invasion of locusts and on-going community violence have clearly demonstrated the importance of preparedness by Government, UN and other development partners to build resilience and reduce the vulnerabilities of the local population to disaster risks.
The UNCT in South Sudan launched its UN Cooperation Framework (UNCF) 2019 to 2021 in December 2018. The UNCF outlines the joint efforts and plans of the UNCT for the three-year period and reflects the priorities of the National Development Strategy and the SDGs.
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