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South Sudan Emergency
1. Brief description of the emergency
South Sudan becomes an independent state on the 9th July 2011 after a protracted civil war that resulted in over 2 million deaths. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in Naivasha and facilitated by a broad spectrum of national and international organisations brought about relative tranquillity for Sudan after decades of devastation. A key promise of the agreement was a referendum for people from the south to choose between remaining part of Sudan or forming a new state. The referendum, held on the 9th of January, was resounding in demanding for a separate state to be named the Republic of South Sudan. This development spurred the return of at least 307,000 people who had been displaced to northern states in the past 2 decades. Recent UN reports estimate that between 400,000 to 800,000 people will likely migrate back to the south when the new state is established. Many of the returnees have to start rebuilding their lives and rediscover their livelihoods former or find alternatives. The situation in South Sudan remains fragile and unpredictable.
Recent displacements in Abyei have resulted in an estimated 115,000 people moving into Warrap State. In addition, there has also been renewed fighting in the transitional areas bordering the south where violence is estimated to have resulted in over 75,000 displaced. In both conflicts, accusations of serious crimes have been levelled against the military operations among them that they have deliberately targeted civilians. Tensions in Blue Nile State remain high; a single incident can easily trigger large scale fighting. Sudan watchers foresee that, should the violence deteriorate or persist in these flashpoint areas people could seek refugee en masse in South Sudan.
Local conflicts have also mushroomed within South Sudan with at least 4 armed rebel groups fighting government troops in Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile and Warrap states. This is in addition to the persistent cross tribal raids, cattle rustling and subsequent revenge violence. For example, between April and June 2011, fighting broke out between the Nuer and the Murle in Pibor county of Jonglei State resulting in high casualties. Unconfirmed figures are that 1,000 people (mostly civilians) could have been killed by this conflict and 25,000 displaced into Pibor and Gurmuk.
2. Impact
About 115,000 people have been displaced from Abyei into Warrap State with little or no possessions, as a result children are not able to go to school. These people have lost their livelihoods and food stocks and therefore will depend on humanitarian aid in the coming months. The displacement will result in fewer people engaging in their normal livelihoods activities. Farming, which is the lifeblood of families in South Sudan, has therefore been affected. This is compounded by the below normal rains that have been received so far. In total, at least 277,000 people have been displaced in South Sudan as a result of the various conflicts. This adds to the humanitarian workload of about 307,000 people who have returned from the North since October 2010 and more expected to come. Most of these people rely entirely on aid.
3. National and international response
International NGOs and UN agencies continue to provide needed humanitarian response to people affected by the conflict in South Sudan in coordination with the Government of Southern Sudan. Negotiations facilitated by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel, chaired by Former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki has resulted in a ceasefire in Abyei. A US sponsored resolution for a Chapter 7 peacekeeping mission for Abyei was approved but deployment of the force has yet to occur. Whether this will result in the immediate return of the IDPs to Abyei remains to be seen.
4. ACT Alliance response
The preparedness Appeal, SDN102, which ACT members have been implementing since 2010 succeeded in preparing the partners to respond to sudden emergencies. At least 4800 NFIs sets were prepositioned in the 10 states as well as the transitional areas of Abyei. Out of these, 2945 kits have already been distributed to returnees and IDPs fleeing violence. Emergency preparedness and response trainings and capacity building was provided to 197 people including staff members of partner organisations, other humanitarian actors and local government officials. The ACT Alliance also accessed 2,000 NFIs from the CARITAS family that were distributed in Southern Kordofan through local implementing partners.
5. Planned activities
ACT members in South Sudan recognise the fact that different areas within the country at the moment require different forms of programming and therefore are proposing an ACT appeal that will:
- Build upon the success of the previous appeal by strengthening existing emergency preparedness and
- Capacitate the members to respond to current emergencies and rapidly respond to future emergencies.
- Seek to support the recovery of returnees through activities that support their livelihoods prospects and re-integration into their communities.
Below is a summary of the activities that are expected to be implemented under this appeal.
- Carry out humanitarian assessments
- Coordination and collaboration with other humanitarian agencies and LGAs.
- Distribution of NFIs or food items to identified households
- Drilling of 18 bore holes
- Latrine construction
- Hygiene promotion
- Construction of a permanent health care centre
- Formation and training of community based peace committees
The overall budget for this 8 month programme is $2,635,115 of which at least $287,000 are NFIs to be sourced from IOM and other UN systems. For rapid response to sudden turns in the security and humanitarian environment, the forum has proposed $120,000 to be managed by the Disaster Management Committee of the ACT Sudan Forum. This fund will provide much needed rapid response in a very complex, ever-changing and unpredictable environment and will be accessible only to ACT members within this Appeal.
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, ACT Chief Finance Officer (Jean_Daniel.Birmele@actalliance.org).
