Clashes in South Sudan have displaced 50,000 individuals since February due to conflicts between the forces of President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. These tensions pose a threat to the fragile peace agreement established in 2018, with significant humanitarian implications including the suspension of vital services and worsening cholera outbreaks.
Recent clashes in South Sudan have resulted in the displacement of approximately 50,000 individuals since February, as reported by a United Nations agency. These confrontations transpire primarily in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, and are characterized by fighting between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, putting the existing fragile peace-sharing agreement at significant risk.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, an official from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in South Sudan, highlighted the grave impact of the violence on vulnerable communities, stating that it has led to the suspension of critical life-saving services. Recent government air strikes in Nasir County resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals, including children, as revealed by local area commissioner James Gatluak.
Of the displaced population, about 10,000 individuals have fled to Ethiopia, and there has been an exodus of 23 humanitarian workers from the region, alongside the closure of a cholera treatment unit in Nasir. Gbeho emphasized the need for all parties involved to facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected, particularly vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly.
Additionally, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported 1,300 cholera cases in Akobo County, indicating health concerns exacerbated by ongoing conflict. The hostilities endanger a peace agreement established in 2018, following a civil war that claimed around 400,000 lives. Kiir’s allies have accused Machar’s forces of stirring unrest with the assistance of the White Army, a group of armed youth associated with Machar’s Nuer ethnic community.
Tensions escalated earlier this month when an estimated 6,000 combatants from the White Army overtook a military camp in Nasir. Attempts by the United Nations to intervene ended tragically, resulting in the deaths of a UN helicopter pilot and a South Sudanese general, among others.
The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has led to a humanitarian crisis, displacing 50,000 people and threatening essential services. The situation underscores the fragility of the peace agreement between Kiir and Machar, with health crises such as cholera emerging amid the violence. Urgent humanitarian access to affected populations is crucial for the protection of vulnerable groups, while tensions between various factions continue to escalate.
Original Source: www.wionews.com
