Aid agencies call for UN protection in South Sudan

Aid agencies, the UN and human rights groups have called for civilians to be protected as violence in South Sudan between forces loyal to rival leaders spreads throughout the country.

"The inability of UNMISS to protect civilians threatens to undermine any attempts at safety and security in the country and makes it impossible for humanitarian agencies to provide the help that is so urgently needed. UNMISS must fulfill its mandate to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel and facilitate humanitarian assistance," said Frederick McCray, South Sudan Country Director at CARE, in a statement issued by 10 international aid agencies on Thursday.

The agencies said that the violence and insecurity in the capital was spreading to other states where half the population relies on humanitarian aid. UN spokesman Farhan Haq said the UN peacekeeping mission continued to receive "deeply disturbing reports of sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, by soldiers in uniform and men in plain clothes against civilians, including minors, around UN House and in other areas of Juba."

The UN has received reports of 120 cases of sexual violence and rape against civilians in South Sudan's capital Juba since fighting broke out again between forces fighting for rival leaders President Salva Kiir and his replaced Vice President Riek Machar three weeks ago.

The 10 aid agencies: Oxfam, CARE, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, Christian Aid, Danish Refugee Council, Global Communities, Internews, Jesuit Refugee Service, and Relief International, called on the Government of South Sudan and the opposition to fully implement the ceasefire in the capital Juba and throughout the country.

"If security conditions deteriorate further, providing aid will become logistically impossible. Humanitarian aid has probably already prevented famine in hard-to-reach parts of South Sudan - if aid agencies cannot operate fully the consequences could be catastrophic," said Zlatko Gegic, South Sudan Country Director at Oxfam.

On Thursday, the European Commission said it was releasing 40 million euros ($44.3 million) in humanitarian assistance to South Sudan. Christos Stylianides, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management said in a statement: "I urge all parties to respect their obligation to grant unhindered and safe humanitarian access to those in need. Furthermore, the systematic looting of humanitarian facilities is unacceptable and must stop immediately."

On July 13, the World Food Programme warehouse was looted and $20 million (18 million euros) of supplies including 4,500 metric tons of food were stolen together with office equipment, fuel, and vehicles.

Amnesty International report

A new report from London-based human rights group Amnesty International (AI) confirmed the UN and aid agency statements: "These war crimes and other abuses committed across the country are the result of ongoing impunity that continues to fuel conflict in South Sudan, as seen in recent weeks of renewed fighting," Lama Fakih, Senior Crisis Advisor at Amnesty International said in the statement released on Thursday.

AI also called for action to improve security: "The murders, rapes and abductions of civilians must be promptly, impartially and effectively investigated, and those reasonably suspected of criminal responsibility brought to justice in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty."

The UN Refugee Agency reported this week that the conflict in South Sudan had produced one of the world's worst displacement situations:

and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported that the violence was exacerbating already unprecedented levels of food insecurity:

jm/ks (Reuters, AFP)