Long and Dark December for South Sudan’s Civilians "It is going to be a long and Dark December for South Sudan’s stranded civilians, a situation the world can’t allow to ignore. The World Must Act Now!" 23 December 2013
By Machien Luoi In the rest of the peaceful world, families are doing their last preparations for a Merry Christmas 2013. In South Sudan families are moaning death of loved ones. Up to date communities are still stressed over their still missing family members and wonders whether they are alive or dead. So many civilians are on the run to reach their next displacement destinations so as to breathe a sigh of relieve of safety. Those at UNMISS and other UN camps across the country are confined to hardships and inadequate food, water and health supplies. This is how the unfolding situation has worsened in just seven days since it first started. It will be a long and dark December for South Sudan’s civilians and mostly Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country. The World can’t afford to see so many lives perish only to regret it later. The World must act now. “The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says it has received reports that up to 62,000 people have been displaced by the violence in South Sudan including some 42,000 currently seeking refuge at UN bases, adding that it expects that number to climb amid the worsening security situation in the country.” UNMISS in Juba had estimated 20,000, mostly Nuer ethnic group members and survivors of the Presidential Guards and National Security genocidal killing of December 14, 16 and 17th 2013. Other reports put the figures as high as 35,000 IDPs in Juba town. There are reported 20,000 civilians that fled Jonglei and taking refuge in Lakes State. In Bor 15,000 civilians have taken refuge at UNMISS, there are reported 5,000 civilians in Bentiu, plus the 2,000 in Pibor, in addition to the ones in Akobo and other areas in the country. Though not accurate, these numbers are highly indicative of the severe situation in the nascent state. The price of current conflict, particularly in human casualties is bound to rise sharply soon as a result of food, water and deteriorating health conditions in the displacement centers. UNMISS and other world organizations are pulling out of the country, the size of their staffs and activities are sharply being reduced and so are their services for the vulnerable groups. UN and the World organizations must not desert South Sudan now. There is need to return to the old ways of humanitarian service delivery to civilians in South Sudan, especially for food, water and health supplies, otherwise this Christmas and end of this year will prove costly for civilians caught up in this conflict. Despite that the conflict started a week ago, reports that IDP camps are surrounded by insecurity is still being heard loud. For instance, civilians from displacement center in Juba still report harassment when they step outside the UNMISS compounds. Some have reported killings to be ongoing against the Nuer ethnic civilians despite that the alleged “attempted Coup” plot incident took place a week ago. Two days ago, Radio Tamajuj reported dead corpses being seen floating in the river Nile in Juba, a situation reported by eye witnesses. This could still be the case in other places affected by the conflict in the country. This is scary and a worrying situation indeed. The World leaders must not only urge and warn, but assertively condemn such acts anywhere in South Sudan. On other accounts, targeted ethnic groups are getting their identity cards and passports removed from them while seeking escape from Juba airport and on the Kenya and Uganda borders. There is need for UNMISS and World organizations to monitor the plight of civilians on the borders of South Sudan and East Africa, DRC and CAR. For example, Sudan Tribune report claimed those fleeing to safety to refugee centers in Uganda are mostly from one ethnic group. This claim seems to point to that contention. Uganda and Kenya authorities must listen to the plight of those communities and citizens of South Sudan who might not have identity cards or passports but feel insecure in their country and opted to leave their country to seek safety in Uganda and Kenya. The neighbors ought to be reminded that most South Sudanese civilians, the most vulnerable ones do not have these identity documents even though they deserve to have them more than anyone, therefore should allow them to safety. Finally, civilians and particularly IDPs in all states engulfed in this conflict will pay the greatest price if the state of affairs in South Sudan does not calm soon. UN and World powers with leverage to save lives and to persuade the warring factions to dialogue must remind these leaders a plight of the innocent civilians who careless about who wins the war, but about who can protect and give them security. If overlooked, it won’t be a surprise that stranded civilians and particularly IDPs in Juba could become victims of retaliatory revenge killings as the conflict spread to states. IDPs in the UNMISS and other assembly areas in the country could be used as human shields as the situation deteriorates. It is going to be a long and Dark December for South Sudan’s stranded civilians, a situation the world can’t allow to ignore. The World Must Act Now! The author is a South Sudanese and can be reached at [email protected] Posted in: Opinions -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14opE78Tg%3DCtowxkJEUvF3cxF28XD%2By%3DZbQNHM2QE-g%2BmFA%40mail.gmail.com. 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