Since February, over 50,000 individuals have been displaced in South Sudan due to violent clashes between forces loyal to President Kiir and First Vice President Machar. The U.N. reports increased tensions in Nasir County, leading to concerns over a fragile peace agreement and exacerbation of humanitarian crises.
At least 50,000 individuals have been displaced in South Sudan since February due to clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, as reported by a U.N. agency. The violence has predominantly taken place in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, wherein escalating tensions threaten the integrity of a tenuous peace-sharing agreement established in 2018.
Anita Kiki Gbeho from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted that the ongoing violence exacerbates the vulnerabilities of already at-risk communities, leading to the cessation of crucial life-saving services. On March 17, an airstrike by the government resulted in at least 20 deaths, including children, according to area commissioner James Gatluak.
OCHA indicated that approximately 10,000 displaced individuals have fled into Ethiopia, while 23 humanitarian workers have been compelled to evacuate the area. Alarmingly, a cholera treatment unit has also been shut down due to the collapse of security in the region. Gbeho urged all parties involved to ensure safe access for humanitarian workers to assist those in dire need, particularly vulnerable populations such as women, children, and the elderly.
Moreover, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) recently reported 1,300 cholera cases in Akobo County, another area in Upper Nile. The ongoing clashes pose a severe threat to the fragile peace agreement established in 2018, following a protracted civil conflict that resulted in approximately 400,000 fatalities. Kiir’s supporters have accused Machar’s forces of collaborating with the White Army, a militia composed of armed youths belonging to the Nuer ethnic group.
Tensions escalated earlier this month when around 6,000 White Army fighters overtook a military camp in Nasir, leading to a tragic incident where an attempted U.N. rescue operation resulted in the deaths of both a U.N. helicopter pilot and a senior South Sudanese general, among others.
The continued clashes in South Sudan are resulting in mass displacement and pose serious challenges to humanitarian assistance efforts. The involvement of armed factions such as the White Army complicates the situation further, threatening the fragile peace established years prior. It is imperative that all parties involved allow unhindered access to humanitarian aid, especially for the most vulnerable populations. The international community must remain vigilant and proactive to address the humanitarian crisis emerging from this ongoing conflict.
Original Source: www.hurriyetdailynews.com
