Clashes in South Sudan have displaced over 50,000 individuals since February as fighting intensifies between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. The violence raises humanitarian concerns, forcing many to evacuate and leading to the suspension of vital services, including cholera treatment. The conflict threatens the fragile peace agreement established after a devastating civil war.
Recent clashes in South Sudan have led to the displacement of at least 50,000 individuals since February, as reported by a United Nations agency. The conflict,, primarily between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar in the northwest, threatens the fragile peace-sharing agreement established after years of civil strife.
According to Anita Kiki Gbeho from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the violence exacerbates risks for already vulnerable communities and hinders crucial humanitarian services. An air strike on Monday by the South Sudanese government in Nasir County resulted in at least 20 fatalities, including children, as confirmed by area commissioner James Gatluak.
Of those displaced, approximately 10,000 have sought refuge in Ethiopia. Furthermore, the ongoing violence has compelled 23 humanitarian workers to evacuate and led to the closure of a cholera treatment unit in the region. Gbeho emphasized the need for safe access for humanitarian aid, particularly for vulnerable populations such as women, children, and the elderly.
Additionally, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported 1,300 cholera cases in Akobo County, which is also situated in the Upper Nile region. The fighting jeopardizes the 2018 peace agreement that was designed to conclude a devastating civil war, which claimed around 400,000 lives. Kiir’s allies accuse Machar’s forces of instigating unrest in Nasir County alongside the White Army, a loosely associated group of armed youths from Machar’s Nuer ethnic community, elevating tensions further.
Earlier this month, tensions escalated as up to 6,000 White Army fighters overran a military encampment in Nasir. A rescue attempt by the United Nations concluded tragically, resulting in the loss of a UN helicopter pilot and the death of a senior South Sudanese general, among others.
The upheaval in South Sudan has resulted in significant displacement and heightened humanitarian crises, with 50,000 individuals uprooted due to clashes between government factions. The disruption of health services, including cholera treatment, highlights the dire state of the situation, necessitating immediate humanitarian access. Continued violence poses a grave risk to the existing peace agreements and the stability of a nation recovering from civil war.
Original Source: www.wionews.com
