Clashes in South Sudan have displaced at least 50,000 people, prompting warnings from the UN regarding a potential relapse into civil war. The violence threatens vulnerable communities and essential services while healthcare systems struggle with shortages amid a cholera outbreak. The fragile peace from the 2018 agreement faces significant challenges due to rising tensions between rival forces.
Clashes in South Sudan have resulted in the displacement of at least 50,000 individuals since February, according to a statement from the United Nations. These conflicts, particularly in the Upper Nile State, involve forces allied to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, thereby jeopardizing the existing peace-sharing agreement. The rising tensions have put vulnerable communities at increased risk and have led to the cessation of essential humanitarian services.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, a representative from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in South Sudan, expressed concern over the situation, noting that the ongoing violence exacerbates the plight of already vulnerable populations. Recently, a government airstrike in Nasir County resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals, including children, as reported by area commissioner James Gatluak.
Furthermore, OCHA indicated that approximately 10,000 displaced people have fled to Ethiopia. The escalation in conflict has also led to the withdrawal of 23 humanitarian workers from the region and the closure of a cholera treatment unit in Nasir County. Nicholas Haysom, the head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), highlighted the potential for a return to civil war, warning that the country is on the edge of disaster similar to the current situation in neighboring Sudan.
Healthcare services are also facing critical challenges, with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) recently reporting 1,300 cholera cases in Akobo County. The healthcare team at the Renk Transit Centre is overwhelmed, treating over 200 patients daily amidst severe staffing and supply shortages. A health professional expressed distress, stating that the inability to provide necessary care has instilled a sense of hopelessness among refugees and returnees.
The clash between Kiir’s and Machar’s forces threatens to unravel the fragile peace established by the 2018 agreement, following a devastating civil war that resulted in around 400,000 fatalities. Kiir’s allies have accused Machar’s forces of inciting unrest in Nasir County alongside the White Army, a militia comprising youths from the Nuer ethnic group. Recent events saw an attack by an estimated 6,000 White Army combatants on a military encampment, further escalating tensions in the region.
The ongoing clashes in South Sudan have displaced thousands and jeopardized crucial humanitarian services, putting vulnerable communities at severe risk. The precarious peace established by the 2018 agreement is in jeopardy due to rising tensions between rival factions, underscoring the urgent need for conflict de-escalation and international support. The situation mirrors the catastrophic conditions seen in neighboring Sudan and calls for immediate action to prevent further deterioration.
Original Source: jordantimes.com
