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UN relief chief "outraged" by violence against civilians in South Sudan

Xinhua, August 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN relief chief Stephen O'Brien on Wednesday said that he was outraged by the acts of violence committed against civilians in South Sudan, calling for swift and decisive action to halt these abuses and bring the perpetrators to account.

O'Brien, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, concluded his three-day mission to South Sudan on Wednesday, calling on all parties to uphold their responsibilities to protect civilians, amidst fresh fighting that has displaced tens of thousands of people in multiple locations across the country, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.

The senior UN official, who is also the UN emergency relief coordinator, also condemned all attacks against aid workers and called on all those in leadership positions to take action against these wholly unacceptable incidents, Dujarric said.

The humanitarian situation in South Sudan is catastrophic, he said.

More than half of the population -- some 6.1 million people -- are in need of humanitarian assistance. An estimated 4.8 million people are severely food insecure across the country, with a quarter of a million children facing severe acute malnutrition.

On Tuesday, O'Brien said that humanitarian workers operate on the basis of independence, impartiality and neutrality, and must be given free, unimpeded access to reach all people in need.

Meanwhile, he underlined the importance of partnerships and coordination with the government and relief actors on the ground, stressing that harnessing such partnership further strengthens the humanitarian support and makes it more cost effective.

The humanitarian response plan inside South Sudan has asked for almost 1.3 billion U.S. dollars, but it is only 40 percent funded.

South Sudan was founded in July 2011, after it gained independence from Sudan. The country descended into conflict in December 2013 due to internal struggles between rival factions.

The recent fighting between rival forces -- the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) loyal to President Salva Kiir and the SPLA in Opposition backing First Vice-President Riek Machar -- erupted in and around Juba in early July. The renewed fighting left some 272 people dead, including 33 civilians. Enditem