South Sudan on the brink of humanitarian tragedy

A senior United Nations official has told the Security
Council that South Sudan is on the brink of humanitarian
catastrophe, calling for international pressure on the
country's warring parties to end the almost eight-month-
long conflict.
Internally displaced people make their way along the main
thoroughfare at a UN camp in Upper Nile state capital
Malakal during the wet season (Photo: AP/Matthew Abbott)
The deputy U.N. peacekeeping chief Edmond Mulet on
Wednesday briefed the Security Council on the situation in
South Sudan after a recent surge in violence between the
government and rebel forces in Upper Nile and Northern
Bahr el-Ghazal states, and the resumption of the slow
moving peace talks in Addis Ababa.
"After three years of independence, South Sudan is on the
brink of a humanitarian catastrophe and a protracted
internal conflict," Mulet told the 15-member body.
"This is a man-made crisis, and those responsible for it
have been slow in resolving it. Both sides continue to
believe that they can achieve more through the pursuit of a
military option," he stressed.
He further said the humanitarian operation in South Sudan
is now "constitutes the biggest aid operation inside any
single country", adding the funding however falls short in
comparison with the needs.
UN agencies estimate that some 3.9 million persons are
facing alarming levels of food insecurity. The violence which
erupted in December 2013, displaced 1.1 million people as
434,000 fled to the neighbouring countries.
Over 50,000 children are at risk of dying as a consequence
of acute malnutrition while 115 people died from cholera in
the recent weeks as the epidemic disease continues to
grow, with more than 5,300 cases.
CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE
The UN assistant secretary-general for peacekeeping
operations, on the other hand told the Council members that
the parties in the peace talks which resumed on 4 August,
are now discussing the implementation of the cessation of
hostilities agreement.
"There is an urgent need for the international community to
speak with one voice to incentivise the parties on a
meaningful participation in the peace talks, but more
importantly, caution them with one voice on the
consequences of impeding the peace process as well as on
the futility of pursuing the military option," he stressed.
Mullet said a peace agreement must be reached without
further delay on how to end the conflict and engage in the
reconciliation process.
He also said that all the UN institutions and member states
implicated in the implementation of the four objectives
included in the new mandate of the UN Mission in South
Sudan (UNMISS) as per resolution no 2155 (2014).
On 29 May, the Security Council extended the UNMISS
mandate for another year and tasked the peacekeeping
mission with the protection of civilians, promotion of human
rights and accountability, facilitation of humanitarian
assistance, and support for the cessation of hostilities.
MAN-MADE SITUATION
A South Sudanese civil society entity described the
humanitarian situation in the country as "man-made",
saying it strongly welcomes the UN official position on the
matter.
"The delay in reaching a peace deal for settling the current
political crisis in the country is mainly caused by the
warring parties of South Sudan. They are mainly interested
in negotiating for political gains at the expense of the
suffering population," Community Empowerment for
Progress Organisation (CEPO) said in a statement issued
Thursday.
"IGAD should push for an end to the peace talks without
delays for the sake our citizens, mostly women, children
and the elderly persons in the country," it added.