Juba, 26th April 2014 - The undersigned non-governmental organisations (NGOs) express deep concern at the serious escalation in violence in South Sudan, which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and is exacerbating an already profound humanitarian crisis.
We strongly condemn all attacks that have taken place against civilians during this conflict, most recently at the UN peacekeeping base in Bor on 17th April and in the town on Bentiu on 15th – 18th April. Civilians have been targeted on the basis of their ethnicity, others indiscriminately killed, and many subjected to unspeakable grave human rights abuses including rape.
Widespread violence against civilians has reportedly been committed since December 2013, but recent events display a serious deepening of the conflict and callous disregard for civilian life and international humanitarian law. So far and estimated 1 million people have been forced from their homes; of these over 90,000 people are sheltering in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) bases across the country. Thousands of people have fled to the UN peacekeeping base in Bentiu for fear of reprisal attacks in the past week.
Many areas outside the main towns remain inaccessible due to security conditions, and it is feared that the number of people affected by the violence and in need of humanitarian assistance could be significantly higher. It is estimated that 3.2 million are at risk of extreme food insecurity, a number that will only rise in coming months. NGOs call on all armed actors to uphold their responsibilities under international humanitarian and human rights law, refrain from targeting civilians, respect the sanctity of civilian spaces, and permit immediate and unconditional humanitarian access to civilians in areas they control.
The most basic needs of civilians in this conflict are growing by the hour. Already strained living conditions for those displaced inside UNMISS bases and outside remote locations will deteriorate further if more civilians are subjected to violence and forced to flee. UNMISS peacekeepers play a critical role in saving lives. They must be reinforced with immediate and adequate peacekeeping capacities, and existing funding shortfalls need to be addressed. They must be also allowed to take robust action to provide protection to civilians in need. The humanitarian community needs all the support it can get to reduce needless suffering. The international community must rise to the challenge by increasing funding for the humanitarian response and urging all parties to the conflict to immediately stop violence against civilians and allow the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in dire need.
But this conflict will not end through these efforts alone. All parties to the conflict must immediately commit to respecting the cessation of hostilities agreement without exception, resume genuine talks in Addis Ababa and work towards a negotiated, inclusive political settlement.
The NGO community in South Sudan remains steadfast in its commitment to providing humanitarian assistance, wherever needed, in an impartial, neutral and independent manner. The people of South Sudan more than ever deserve our concerted attention and efforts; inaction is not an option.
International NGOs and South Sudanese civil society signatories:
- Acted Lutheran World Federation
- ACORD Malteser International
- Adeso Mercy Corps
- Africa Educational Trust Mentor Initiative
- Amref Health Africa Mine Action Group (MAG)
- Baptist Relief Agency (BARA) National Relief and Development Corps (NRDC)
- Better World Campaign Non Violent Peace Force
- CARE International Norwegian Refugee Council
- Caritas Switzerland and Luxembourg Oxfam
- CESVI Pact
- Christian Aid PAH
- COFAS Plan International
- Concern Worldwide People in Need
- Cordaid Relief International
- COSV Red R
- Danish Church Aid Rural Action Against Hunger
- Food for the Hungry Sign of Hope
- Finn Church Aid SNV
- Health Net TPO Sudan Evangelical Mission
- InterNews Tearfund
- International Medical Corps Terres Des Hommes Theso
- International Rescue Committee Troicaire
- INTERSOS World Relief
- Johanniter International World Vision
- Kissito Healthcare International Windle Trust International
Read more about CARE's response to the South Sudan crisis.
Spokespeople and media contact in South Sudan:
Media contact: Dan Alder, (Juba): [email protected], Nairobi mobile +254-0-706 223 998; Juba mobile: +211-0-959 100 145
Spokesperson: Aimee Ansari, Country Director (Juba): [email protected], mobile: +211-956021580; mobile +211-913177836
About CARE: CARE has been operating in Southern Sudan (now South Sudan) since 1993, initially providing humanitarian relief to internally displaced people in Western Equatoria. The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 allowed CARE to expand into Jonglei and Upper Nile States to support returnees from the refugee camps, and the organization has since broadened its operations to include development programs.
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE has more than six decades of experience delivering emergency aid during times of crisis. Our emergency responses focus on the needs of the most vulnerable populations, particularly girls and women. Last year CARE worked in 86 countries and reached more than 97 million people around the world.