South Sudan: UNHCR calls on South Sudan leaders to reinvigorate peace efforts on 9th anniversary of independence
South Sudan has also shown commendable commitment to welcoming people fleeing war and persecution, including during COVID-19 pandemic when hundreds
of refugees have arrived
GENEVA, Switzerland, July 8, 2020/ --
Nine years since South Sudan gained independence and became the world’s
youngest nation, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is calling on the
country’s leaders to reinvigorate efforts to establish lasting peace and bring an end to Africa’s largest displacement crisis.
“It’s crucial that South Sudan continues on the road to lasting peace,”
said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. “After years of
conflict, the South Sudanese people deserve the chance to return to
their homes, to live in safety in their communities and to focus on
building a bright and prosperous future.”
Notable steps forward have been made and deserve recognition, including
the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict signed in
2018, and the formation of a Revitalized Transitional Government of
National Unity in February 2020.
South Sudan has also shown commendable commitment to welcoming people
fleeing war and persecution, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when hundreds of refugees have arrived in the country from Sudan, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Central African Republic
(CAR). The signing of the Kampala Convention committing the country to
uphold the rights and protections for internally displaced people (IDPS) is another favorable milestone.
However, increasing violence in 2020, particularly in Jonglei, and
Central Equatoria, threaten to destabilize these hard-won efforts.
Tens of thousands of people have become newly displaced and hundreds
more have lost their lives. Women and children have been particularly
affected. Sexual violence remains widespread, as well as abductions, and the destruction of people’s properties.
Ending violence has never been more urgently needed as the impacts of
fighting are further compounded by COVID-19. Restrictions on movement
due to the lockdown are hampering the ability of humanitarian
organisations to deliver aid. UNHCR and partners are on the ground
providing emergency kits and temporary shelters, while stepping up
community engagement to address COVID-19 concerns among displaced
communities.
UNHCR calls on all parties to the violence to urgently implement a
ceasefire, particularly as the pandemic is expected to reach its peak in the coming months. Every effort must be made to limit the spread of the virus, while the country’s health system, weakened by years of
conflict, must be supported to meet the coming challenges.
We will continue to stand in solidarity with the people of South Sudan
and support the government with its humanitarian needs and building
capacity, including in relation to the pandemic response.
South Sudan: UNHCR calls on South Sudan leaders to reinvigorate peace efforts on 9th anniversary of independence
South Sudan: UNHCR calls on South Sudan leaders to reinvigorate peace efforts on 9th anniversary of independence
South Sudan: UNHCR calls on South Sudan leaders to reinvigorate peace efforts on 9th anniversary of independence
South Sudan: UNHCR calls on South Sudan leaders to reinvigorate peace efforts on 9th anniversary of independence
South Sudan: UNHCR calls on South Sudan leaders to reinvigorate peace efforts on 9th anniversary of independence
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