UN warns of "humanitarian crisis" in South Sudan ArticleComments (1). Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 15, 2012 (JUBA) — A United Nations special envoy on Thursday warned of the possibility of “large scale humanitarian crisis” in the word’s newest nation, unless resources are mobilized to ensure protection and safety of children returning from neighboring north. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG) on Children and Armed Conflict said UN humanitarian partners are deeply concerned about the numbers of returnees, anticipated to drastically increase in the next few weeks. “The international community must be on alert for the possibility of a large scale humanitarian crisis and resources should be mobilized to ensure that children returning from Sudan are given the proper care and protection,” she said. Currently on a South Sudan visit as part of follow-on signing of the action plan between the UN and the Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA), Coomaraswamy also held talks with President Salva Kiir, at which the latter re-affirmed the army’s commitment to release all children from their ranks. The SRSG on children and armed conflict, on Wednesday, visited Renk in Upper Nile state to obtain first hand assessment on the status of returnee children from Sudan to South Sudan. While in Renk, she reportedly met with the local commander of the SPLA and reinforced the message of the revised action plan, which was signed in Juba on Monday. During her visit to Jonglei state, Coomaraswamy decried the high level of child abductions in the region, which she said was fuelling the conflict between Lou Neur and Murle communities. “It is important that the best interest of the child is at the heart of any reconciliation,” she told local leaders, UN partners and representatives from non-governmental organizations. Coomaraswamy urged South Sudan government to take education as a priority in the new austerity budget, which was introduced in the wake of the current oil crisis. “For this new nation to flourish, it is essential that education is made a priority, even with an austerity budget,” she said, while emphasizing the importance of effective social programmes that will prevent children from being lured into armed militias. (ST). -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
