Western concern over escalating violence in South Sudan – Details

The United States, the United Kingdom, Norway and the European Union, in a joint statement yesterday, expressed dismay at the escalating violence in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State and urged for humanitarian access to be allowed.

The joint statement issued through the US State Department said reports of killings, destruction of property and sexual violence are “horrific and cannot go unaddressed”.

“We call on all authorities in South Sudan to allow and facilitate safe access for humanitarian aid in Upper Nile, Jonglei State and other conflict areas in the country, and for the more than 9.4 million people in need across South Sudan,” the statement said.

On Wednesday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that more than 160 civilians have been killed and 20,000 displaced by violence in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State since August, as clashes between armed groups escalated.

It is estimated that 9.4 million of the most vulnerable people in South Sudan will need urgent life-saving assistance and protection in 2023, compared to 8.9 million in 2022.

More than 2,300 people have arrived at the Malakal Protection of Civilians site since the start of the crisis, and this increase in new arrivals is placing an additional strain on the already limited capacity of partners to provide services to support them, with limited space to stay.

As the conflict continues, an estimated 5,000 people have been displaced to the Melut area of Manyu County. According to local responders, at least 75% of the newly displaced are women and children, with many children separated from their caregivers. A large number of people have reportedly crossed into Sudan, while others are hiding in the swamps.

Ongoing insecurity is hampering the ability of humanitarian partners to deliver life-saving assistance to thousands of people and has forced partners to suspend much-needed assessment missions.

In some areas, the violence has led to the movement of humanitarian workers, the looting of humanitarian facilities and supplies, and the imposition of movement restrictions through the Kodok and Manyu districts.

South Sudan remains the most violent context for aid workers, followed by Afghanistan and Syria, and nine humanitarian workers have been killed on duty in South Sudan since the beginning of 2022.