The United Nations: South Sudan will not bear another war, and an invitation to avoid a “human nightmare”

In front of a meeting of the UN Security Council today, Wednesday, the Special Representative of the Secretary -General of the United Nations in South Sudan, Nicholas Heissum, said that he had previously warned of the escalation of the confrontation between the two main parties in the peace agreement, adding: “This confrontation has now turned into a direct military confrontation, which led to the escalation of tensions throughout the country.”.

The war erupted in 2013 between the forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those loyal to his former deputy, Riek Machar, to end with a peace agreement signed in 2018.

In front of the Security Council, the UN official reminded that these recent confrontations have erupted in the state of Upper Nile in March when the White Army took control of Nasser’s garrison of the Popular Defense Forces of southern Sudan, and the following air strikes claimed that they used packages containing burning fuel, which caused major human losses and severe injuries, which included women and children.

He added that humanitarian workers estimate that more than 80,000 people have been displaced from the region.

Heissum, who heads the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (Unmes), warned of more mobilization operations in the upper Nile, including the alleged forced recruitment for children, as well as the deployment of Ugandan foreign forces at the request of the government of South Sudan, which increases people’s concerns.

The arrest of the first deputy of President Riek Machar was described as “A new guide to the low confidence between the main parties”.

A dark reminder of previous conflicts

The private actor described the situation as “A dark reminder of 2013 and 2016 disputes that won the lives of 400,000 people”.

The UN official requested the support of the Security Council to address Nasser’s tensions immediately through the dialogue, and urged all parties to abide by the ceasefire and the peace agreement, and to call for the release of the arrested military and civilian officials or their treatment in accordance with the legal procedures, and to encourage the two parties to control and address their differences in a constructive manner and through public dialogue, and to put the interests of the people in the first place clearly.

He pointed to the role of the Unmemis mission in protecting civilians, stressing that its role is now more important than ever. But he warned that the mission faces operational restrictions, especially in the face of a broader struggle.

Human nightmare

Edem Wossurno, Director of Operations and Advocacy Department at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country, a memorandum of warning that she launched last year in a precedent in August last year.

س In order: “After eight months, the situation deteriorated dramatically, turning into what the Secretary -General recently described as the human nightmare. If the political crisis is not avoided, the human nightmare will become a tangible reality very quickly.”.

Woorno detailed the consequences of the escalation of violence, highlighting that 9.3 million Sudanese – that is, three quarters of the population – need this year a form of humanitarian assistance, and children form half of this total number.

She said that nearly 7.7 million people are suffering from severe hunger, adding that 650,000 children under the age of five are at risk of severe severe malnutrition this year.

And Surno pointed to the restrictions of humanitarian arrival, as more than a hundred incidents have been reported related to arrival since the beginning of the year, noting the insecurity, looting and bureaucratic obstacles.

The repercussions of the conflict in Sudan

The UN official also said that “The conflict in Sudan, which has entered its third year now, still greatly affects southern Sudan.”.

It reported that more than 1.1 million refugees crossed the border. She warned that this unprecedented flow imposed tremendous pressure on local services, food supplies, and fragile infrastructure, especially in the border areas.

س In order: “We are very concerned about the impact of this on women and girls who face increasing risks of sexual violence and reproductive health complications.”.

She also warned of the continued outbreak of cholera, as the disease affected 49,000 people and claimed the lives of more than 900 people, adding that although the vaccination campaigns reach 5.2 million people, the risk of the outbreak will increase, especially with the start of the rainy season.

Dedicated to the interpretation: “You must take advantage of the opportunity to avoid a human catastrophe.”.

She warned that without providing immediate and flexible financing, it will not be able to continue the humanitarian response and expand its scope in proportion to the great needs.

The response plan for the humanitarian needs of 2025 requires $ 1.7 billion to support approximately 5.4 million people, adding that “Spirits at stake”.