Southern Sudan is facing unmanageable set of problems – UN
August 12, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — About 40 percent of southern Sudanese are facing “humanitarian perfect storm” said a UN official today adding that spiralling tribal fighting, massive food cap and budget shortfall are behind this critical situation.
Since the independence of the country in 1956, the southern Sudan remained undeveloped due to the different civil wars in the region. After the signing of a peace agreement in 2005, the semi-autonomous region did not get the expected international support. Besides allegations of corruption that harmed its image, much of the international efforts are focused on Darfur.
“We are seeing a convergence of factors in the south that are putting at least 40 percent of the entire population of southern Sudan at real risk,” said the UN deputy humanitarian coordinator in Southern Sudan.
According to the fifth census results southern Sudan population are estimated at 8,260,490. So the 40% mentioned by the UN official means that over three million people are concerned by the humanitarian crisis, and puts southern Sudan in a situation, to some extent, similar to Darfur.
“Since January of this year, more than 2,000 people have died in inter-tribal violence and more than 250,000 people have been displaced across the ten states of Southern Sudan,” said Grande to underline the disastrous impact of the tribal fighting in in southern Sudan.
She further pointed out that these clashes seem endless because one attack leads to another “resulting in a spiral of attack and counter-attack.”
Besides, the security concern, the UN humanitarian said the food deficit in southern Sudan is also caused by the late rains.
“The rains necessary for the first harvest have failed — which will extend the hunger gap from June all the way through October, when it normally ends in August,” she further said.
Ms. Grande also said that the semi-autonomous government has been deeply affected by the loss of 40% of its oil revenues. She further said southern Sudan authorities were not able to take over the responsibility from NGOs and UN agencies for large parts of the social safety net as intended.
She disclosed that this financial shortfall occurred at a time when many of the NGOs had “planned to hand-over this work and therefore do not have sufficient funding to continue.”
On the overall humanitarian situation in southern Sudan, the UN official said more than 90% of the population were living on less than a dollar a day and 1.2 million people in Southern Sudan are food deficit and will need assistance during 2009.
Also she added that one out of seven women who became pregnant would probably die of pregnancy related complications and there were only 10 certified midwives in southern Sudan.
To face the humanitarian crisis “22,000 tons of additional food was anticipated to be needed to respond to the food gap. Half of this will be for Jonglei state alone, one of the states hardest-hit by insecurity,”
“I know that there is a lot of attention to Darfur and this is deserved but the South deserves much more than it is receiving, particularly when the CPA itself is entering its critical stage,” she said.
(ST)
oshay
Southern Sudan is facing unmanageable set of problems – UN
And people actually talk about independence. Independence for what, what the hell has the SPLM achieved to threaten independence. All these problem wouldn’t of existed if the corrupt SPLM wisely spent the 7 Billion dollars it recieved from the North.
South Sudan is not even under sanction as compared with the North and still it is faced with unmanageable problems. Even the desert covered North can feed its populace as compared with the arable green filled South.
This is another example of why the Arabs laugh at us and the perception that Southerners can’t rule themselves become more true every day. This is an embarrassment and a shame to all the pathetic SPLM supporters.
Buk Jr
Southern Sudan is facing unmanageable set of problems – UN
The reason why people still suffering remain unanswer by southern sudan government. Why I said that, Southern Sudan government are the voice for every citizens in southern sudan but they are not up to that, they are only after their own business interest. How could people still be suffering when there is a government present.
Southern sudan is not like before, budget must be made to provide every citizens in southern. Mr president must be told this, we are tired of begging from humanitarians every single year. Its time for southern sudan to stand up for themselves and do the right thing.
Thonchamkelei Purcula
Southern Sudan is facing unmanageable set of problems – UN
Yes, Ms. Lise, you did indeed attributes the root causes of South Sudan’s problems to where they originate. The evil islamic regime based in Khartoum headed by arabs has never since they illegally immigrate to sudan spare South from stealing its abundance resources. As if that was not enough, the regime has now relentlessly embarked on proxy war through arming local indigenous people and turn them against themselves inorder to achieve the goal of divide and rule. This arab’s tactic of divide and rule has worked for decades and does currently seem to be so, especially among primitive tribes with inferior character trait who still look upon evil-arabs as sources of food and political’s privileges. The recent defection of Mr.Lam to form a pro-NCP, the so called splm-dc is a living testimony on how backward and primitive some tribes are still in the South. I’m not trying to particularize on Lam only and link him to his tribe but rather trying to showcase him as a perfect example that fits inferiority complex and proxy politics. However, we do have handful of likes of Lam over the South, some currently in the GOSS trying hard to cripple
it by embezzling its scarcely reouces. To make it worse, these arabs in black skin working in GoSS often adamantly refused to confide in the ability of Southern Sudanese to overcome arab-evil monopoly in Sudan. I wish to assure you, Ms. Lise, that Southern Sudan has travelled a long way and it has reached to the beginning of an end comes 20011. Remain richly blessed. By Purcula
Oduck Bol
Southern Sudan is facing unmanageable set of problems – UN
This is painful life which citizens get after CPA agreement. My blame going to SPLM who leading the south now. Insecurity brought all problems. In fact,citizens get hunger because they do not go to plan their food because they will be killed by unknown person and SPLM has done nothing for that. Also,Instead of chairing the little money we get from oil between counties by buying equipments that can cultivate,they are looting public money and buying houses out side the country. We know that you are preparing your places out side the country so that you will go there if war break out again. But,beleive me,nations of south are not stupid,you will pay the price whether you went Europe or Western world, we will get you there and bring you back. If you do not know to get the job done, why do not leave it for a person who could do it for people. It is not shame to give up if you do not know how do the job instead letting people die from many reasons that you could not solve. It is time for Salva Kirr to quite now before more people die again because of insecurity.
Ouduck Bol
Biliu
Southern Sudan is facing unmanageable set of problems – UN
Very dreadful and disappointed news, I fully held the Government of the South the entire responsibility for the instable situation in Jonnglei State, the lost of hundreds innocent lives is a stigma on our faces in time efforts should be focused on development and social integration.
The latest tribal clashes made it so difficult for humanitarian organizations to deliver the aids where they mostly needed; this is another deplorable fact to be added to many other unresolved issues our government should pay attention to.
We are about to build a country here, such a task needs a lot of dedication, perseverance and decrement, there will be no South or a new state without the effort of all southerners. Murle, Nuer of Nasser, Dinka ..all the way and included all the tribes of South Sudan most stand for a common purpose and fix eyes to our ultimate objective (our upcoming new state) tribalism is a proud not a disgrace and ought to remain as so, we have a rich cultural diversity that we should maintain and support, the on going clashes between Murle and Nuer Nasser has triggered lot of worries and exposed measure defects on our government in the South, Civilian disarmament should take place immediately and followed with massive reconciliation and inner healing for the afflicted citizens of Gonglei State.
Brother Oshay, as southerners, we are upset regarding to the ongoing events in Gongeli state, that’s doesn’t mean we have to burry SPLM alive or our right for self-determination, southerners are equipped and ready to rule themselves don’t make your wishful attitudes on Transient events, I’m totally amazed, 7 Billion $ given to the South?!, Sudan budged is under such a number for many years, where did you come up with such a number?!
budi 23rd journalist
your comments are so abominated and derailed, what are you professing reflecting a sick retarded tribal mentality, in fact, south has suffered and will suffer more because of people of your aspect GOSS is not a government of Dinka as you are projecting, it’s the Government of Southerners, if you can get a grip on it that would be for your unqualified retarded mind, wake up and be a true southerner!