Tag: Jonglei

WHO donates medical kits for flood-affected communities in Jonglei

Health workers offloading emergency medical kits donated by the World Health Organization |Photo: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has donated sets of emergency medical kits to its partner agencies operating in Jonglei, one of the hardest-hit states in the country.

The medical assistance was channeled through Christian Mission for Development (CMD), Medicair South Sudan, and Health Action for Africa running Health Cluster in Manyo, Canal Piji and Bor counties.

Since last year, nearly 20,000 people have been affected and displaced to neighboring areas due to worst flooding.

The affected people are in urgent need of food, livelihood support, emergency shelter as well as non-food items (ES/NFI), water, sanitation and hygiene, health and protection services.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 2. 7 million people are expected to face severe food insecurity in the next few months, posing an alarming situation in a country still facing other challenges.

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Kiir says he’s tired of violence in Jonglei, vows not to intervene again in their issues

President Salva Kiir Mayardit speaks at the Pibor-Jonglei Peace Conference held in Juba between 25th - 27th January, 2021 |Photo: Office of the President
President Salva Kiir Mayardit speaks at the Pibor-Jonglei Peace Conference held in Juba between 25th – 27th January, 2021 |Photo: Office of the President

Speaking at the conclusion of the Jonglei-Pibor Peace Conference on Wednesday, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit called on the rival communities to stop engaging in inter-tribal conflicts or else he would not send troops to de-escalate tensions.

“Next time you go for fighting, I will not come to help you again, and even, I will not appoint any committee to go and investigate the fighting in that area,” Kiir told the participants while closing the two-day Peace Conference in Juba.

Kiir told them that he would rather remain silent and keep his security forces around him for other purposes than intercommunal violence.

“I will maintain the small army and police around me. I have decided that if any fighting [erupts] again, I will not send any soldier or police. I will allow you to fight till the end,” Kiir told them.

He also warned them that if they engage in other acts of violence and rush to him for protection, they should not complain anymore and accept their defeat.

“But I will help you and defend you [when you run to me]; after that, do not talk like a man.”

Over 250 representatives from the the Nuer, Dinka, Kachipo, Murle, and
Anyuak participated in the peace conference amid at ending insecurity and inter-communal conflicts in Jonglei and Pibor Administrative.

Intercommunal violence between the Nuer, Murle, and Dinka aggravated by cattle rustling and child abduction has been never-ending. It can be traced back to the 1950s.

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Kiir says he’s pained by the suffering of his people

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir is feeling the pain and suffering of the country’s citizens who have been affected by severe food insecurity, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic, according to his recent remarks on New Year’s Eve.

“My heart goes out to those who have lost their loved ones to COVID-19 as well as those who are living in hardships as a result of the flood. While overcome by sadness, we should all be encouraged by how you, ordinary people, have maintained social harmony during this crisis,” says President Salva Kiir Mayardit in his New Year’s message.

Kiir noted that the past year has been one of the most difficult years ever, exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the prevalence of acute food insecurity, as reported by humanitarian agencies.

“As I mentioned in my Christmas message, 2020 has been a difficult year. We were affected by COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to take human lives and exacted economic toll both in our country and across the globe. Our situation has also been worsened by floods, which have deströyed livelihood of thousands of people in our country.”

After more than six years of conflict, South Sudan remains one of the most food-insecure countries in the world.

10 states of the Republic of South Sudan | Photo: USAID/FFP

According a report issued recently by aid agencies, an estimated 6 million people—representing approximately 51 percent of South Sudan’s total population of 11.7 million—may face Crisis (IPC 3) or worse levels of acute food insecurity and require urgent food assistance between February and April this year.

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Gov’t declares Magalla as an IDPs camp as floods worsen in Jonglei

Sept 23, 2020 (Thessherald)–In a letter addressed to Ministers, Governor, County Authorities & Humanitarian agencies – the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has declared Magalla as an IDPs Camp.

“This is to kindly inform all the above recipients of this letter that due the natural calamities and disaster caused by the flooding effects that have resulied in the displacement of the persons, the government through the line Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has decided to establish an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Mangalla town.”

“You attention is drawn to the fact that the displaced persons are in dire need of various kind of humanitarian assistance.”

“It is important to note that urgent and emergency assistance will be needed in earnest. The State level and county level authorities in Jonglei and Mangalla respectively are hereby informed of this important information and directive. We highly request for your co-operation on this matter.”

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Troika calls for full implementation, voices concern over inter-tribal violence in S. Sudan

July 15, 2020 (Thessherald)–The Troika countries, (the United States, the United Kingdom and Norway) have voiced their concern over the ongoing slow pace of the implementation of the peace agreement and called on the Parties to expedite the process as a matter of urgency.

The Troika called in a joint statement issued at the “IGAD” summit on Tuesday for the rapid establishment of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the completion of security sector reform.

“The Troika remains deeply concerned with the lack of progress in other areas and calls upon the parties to further accelerate the implementation of the peace agreement. The Troika looks forward to the formation of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the completion of security sector reform,” the statement partly reads.

The group remarked that the persistence of inter-tribal violence pitting ethnic groups in Jonglei State is a source of concern and urged leaders to find an amicable solution to address the problem.

“The recent rising violence across the country, particularly in Jonglei but also in Warrap and Lakes states, has left at least 60,000 people displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance. This presents a fundamental challenge to the continued credibility of the ceasefire and the peace agreement.”

“The Summit must encourage the Transitional Government to act quickly with all parties working together to stem the violence, in line with its responsibility to protect the population and its role in enabling humanitarian access. If we do not see action now then we may face the risk of a humanitarian catastrophe in the most affected areas. We commend the role of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in protecting vulnerable groups.”

Since December last year, South Sudan has witnessed widespread inter-communal violence, which has been exacerbated by cattle rustling and rampant child abduction.

In recent months, the same cycle of violence has claimed the lives of 600 people and left nearly 1,000 others critically wounded particularly in Jonglei State .

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