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Alert
South Sudan
Conflict and Displacement in Jonglei
Geneva, 7 March 2013
1. Brief description of the emergency and impact
The situation in Pathai, a small village in Uror county of Jonglei has become distressing. Urgent action is needed to save lives especially of innocent children. At least 9,000 people have been displaced by intertribal conflict between the Lou Nuer and the Murle tribes around Akobo east of Uror). Both tribes have a history of vicious communal violence perpetrated with the intention of raiding for cows and/or for revenge. Hundreds of houses are estimated to have been destroyed by the tribal conflict and at least 100 people are reported to have been killed/died. In addition 2,000 heads of cows are reported stolen thereby depriving the community of a key coping mechanism. More people will likely be displaced as the intertribal conflict is expected to worsen as revenge violence intensifies. In addition, rampant flooding that occurred towards the end of 2012 have also caused massive food shortages resulting in people moving from even more remote areas to Pathai where they may be able to get food supplies in the market – this has pushed the prices of food even higher in this normally very quiet village. The displaced people are staying in an IDP camp with deteriorating nutritional, health, water, sanitation and hygiene conditions. The situation continues to unfold; it is indeed a real crisis.
2. Why is an ACT response needed?
LWF proposes that a rapid response fund be sought to implement a once off, quick impact water supply project in Pathai. Provision of water and other services will undoubtedly save lives especially of children. Whilst four boreholes have been rehabilitated in this community under an on-going emergency response project (outside Act Appeal), they can realistically serve only up to 2,000 people with clean water. Most of the IDPs are therefore getting water from unprotected and unsafe sources (stream) nearby.
3. National and international response
The South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission is registering affected and displaced communities and remains engaged on the ground providing/creating an environment for effective emergency response. Tearfund has carried out a nutritional survey that has resulted in a nutritional project in the targeted communities. WFP plans to implement a food distribution programme whilst CARE international will implement primary health care activities.
4. ACT Alliance response
LWF distributed fishing nets and hooks to help the communities reestablish their livelihoods. LWF also rehabilitated 4 boreholes in the same community.
5. Planned activities
The current water supply in Pathai is only appropriate for 2,000 people yet 9,000 people have been displaced to the village that already had an estimated 4,000 people. LWF plans to implement a solar-powered motorized system on one of the boreholes with an elevated tank and 2 or 3 water distribution points. This would ensure that safer water is pumped to the community. The RRF will take additional activities to make sure that the interventions have longer term effect over the communities.
6. Constraints
Logistics in Jonglei is difficult especially in the targeted communities as the area is not accessible during the rainy season (starting in May) which can be up to 6 months. The security situation remains difficult. The situation is still tense and tribal conflict is expected to persist or even worsen until the rainy season. There is a real risk that revenge violence might flare up in the coming weeks and months. Prices of local materials that might be required for this project are very high because the area is largely inaccessible and therefore have to be prepositioned at higher cost.
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Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, ACT Director of Finance (jbi@actalliance.org)
