Humanitarian aid will not resolve S. Sudan conflict: EU
September 18, 2014 (JUBA) – A visiting European Union (EU) representative has warned that no amount of aid assistance can avert a looming famine in South Sudan, which is expected to affect some 3.7 million people.
“Humanitarian aid is not the solution to the crisis. The solution must be a political one,” said Brouwer on Wednesday, while speaking to reporters at the end of his three-day visit to the capital, Juba.
“We are hopeful that the ongoing process in Addis Ababa will be conducive to some kind of political settlement and political agreement, which would create a condition for a genuine reconstruction and rebuilding of this country,” said Brouwer.
An estimated 10,000 people have died, while some 1.8 million have been displaced from their homes since conflict erupted just over nine months ago following a political dispute in the country’s ruling party (SPLM).
The conflict has reignited tribal tensions in the young nation, pitting government supporters loyal to president Salva Kiir against rebel forces aligned with former vice-president Riek Machar, who was sacked last July.
Peace talks in the Ethiopian capital, which are being mediated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have been hampered by ongoing delays and have so far failed to achieve a lasting political solution to the crisis.
Both parties have agreed on the formation of a transitional government of national unity by the end of this month after failing to honour a 60-day ultimatum set by IGAD in June.
The talks are due to resume in Addis Ababa this week.
The EU official said both parties hold the key to ending the suffering of their people and improving the country’s humanitarian situation.
“This is not a natural disaster. This is not a stereotype famine. This is a man-made disaster,” said Brouwer.
(ST)