South Sudan referendum threatened by insecurity, food crisis: UN
June 4, 2010 (JUBA) — The worsening humanitarian situation in the form of constant inter-tribal conflicts and rising food insecurity in South Sudan threatens prospects for a successful referendum, Lise Grande, the UN Deputy Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator has said.
The peace deal provided for a 2011 referendum on independence in the south. It is widely expected that Southerners will choose independence after more than two decades of bitter civil war with the North.
In an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune, Grande decried the escalating levels of violence resulting from inter-tribal conflicts, notably in Jonglei and Warrap States.
An estimated 700 people have reportedly died and nearly 90,000 were displaced as a result of these conflicts, while nearly 3.3 million people are believed to be moderately food insecure.
The Deputy Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, however, lauded the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) for its tremendous contribution towards addressing some of these humanitarian challenges.
“The strategic leadership provided by the Government of Southern Sudan was essential in coordinating our humanitarian responses toward identified priority areas,” she said.
This year alone, Southern Sudan requires about $530 million to address humanitarian issues. Out of this, only 26 per cent has reportedly been received, with a $35 million contribution already got from the Government of Southern Sudan treasury.
Grande further acknowledged the role being played by World Food Programme (WFP) in humanitarian assistance across the semi-autonomous region. Already, WFP has reportedly supplied over 50,000 metric tons of food across South Sudan.
“This is a remarkable achievement from WFP [World Food Programme] considering the fact that its supply more than doubled from last year’s figure of 18,000 metric tons,” Ms Grande said.
Her remarks come just days after John Holmes, the UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator concluded a four-day tour of Sudan.
During his visit, Mr. Holmes expressed concern over the worrying humanitarian situation against the background of existing variables like poverty, underdevelopment or indicators in basic areas like child mortality.
In his report made public today, Holmes warned that the food crisis in southern Sudan could turn catastrophic unless the humanitarian community steps up contributions to enable agencies to boost their relief efforts in the region.
“We face a deteriorating humanitarian situation [in southern Sudan] this year – widespread food insecurity with 40 per cent of the population either severely or moderately food insecure,” he said.
He noted that only 26 per cent of the $530 million requested by humanitarian agencies for southern Sudan has been funded.
(ST)
thieleling
South Sudan referendum threatened by insecurity, food crisis: UN
Dear Readers,
“inter-tribal conflicts and rising food insecurity in South Sudan threatens prospects for a successful referendum”, plus Salva Kiir & Deng Alor’s foolish leadership!!
Dinka Boy
South Sudan referendum threatened by insecurity, food crisis: UN
I agree that tribal cattle raiding is due to food shortage and the primitiveness. In the South, there are many ethnicities,but few are the one involving in the cattle theft from rich people.
On the side of primitiveness, aprimitive person can not understand that there would be greate risk or some consequences of taking someone’s belonging. Aprimitive only think of food not his life.
After 10 more years, I predict that South Sudan will be free from cattle thefts and politican prostitutions because education will be there, the laws and regulation that will stop stealing will also be there.
I definitely think that abundant food ,education, and servere laws in the South will stop insecurity in the South. Mark my words!
Thanks
babadit
South Sudan referendum threatened by insecurity, food crisis: UN
Let them not tell us a lot of lies when they left food to rot in some stores in magwi yet people continues to look for food in EES.
WFP should not turn sudan into their business busket.
DASODIKO
South Sudan referendum threatened by insecurity, food crisis: UN
Jallabas will never die in South Sudan again, but let the Southerners to kill themselves as happens in the rest of the margins. Look South Sudan in the past and Darfur today!!!!!!!!!! kill a slave with a slave; using their own oil money Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, while sitting far away in an arm chair aha what happen.