South Sudan continues to face persistent challenges to peace and stability, Security Council told
New York, Nov 18 (Just Earth News): Briefing the United Nations Security Council for the last time, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan called on the 15-member body to continue to accord priority to the country and to consider the future of its people in taking any decisions.
South Sudan will face escalating food crisis in 2017, UN agriculture agency warns
New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): As the conflict in South Sudan grinds on, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Monday that 31 per cent of the country’s population, or 3.7 million people, are facing a severe food security risk, despite the end of the lean food season and start of harvests – a major increase from the one million who were in a similar situation at this time last year.
Some 3,500 people fleeing South Sudan each day due to ongoing conflict – UN refugee agenc
New York, Nov 5 (Just Earth News): The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has led to immense suffering and displacement, with an average of 3,500 people fleeing the country each day to neighbouring countries, prompting the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), national authorities, and other humanitarian actors to race to create safe and humane conditions for arrivals – 90 per cent of whom are women and children.
South Sudan: UN peacekeeping chief sets up task force after probe into mission’s performance
New York, Nov 4 (Just Earth News): After an independent inquiry found that the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) failed to protect civilians as deadly violence broke out in and around its premises in the capital, Juba, in July, the top UN peacekeeping official on Thursday announced that he has established a task force to carry out the probe’s recommendations, which include ensuring greater accountability of the mission’s leadership.
South Sudan: Ban to put in place measures to improve UN Mission’s ability to protect civilians
New York, Nov 1 (Just Earth News): Alarmed by the “serious shortcomings†uncovered by an independent investigation into the response of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) after deadly violence erupted in and around its premises in Juba this past July, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will introduce a raft of measures for the Mission to better protect civilians – including through greater accountability of the mission's civilian and uniformed leadership, Ban’s spokesperson said on Tuesday.
South Sudan: UN human rights chief warns of ‘alarming rise’ in ethnic hate speech
New York, Oct 26 (Just Earth News): An alarming rise in hate speech and incitement to violence against certain ethnic groups in South Sudan has prompted the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, to issue a warning that if the community and political leaders at the highest levels do not rein it in, mass atrocities in the country could erupt.
South Sudan: 100,000 people trapped in Yei, UN refugee agency warns
New York, Sept 30 (Just Earth News): Urgent humanitarian assistance is needed for some 100,000 people trapped in the South Sudanese town of Yei, where the security situation deteriorated rapidly after renewed conflict broke out in Juba, the capital, in early July, the United Nations refugee agency warned today.
Number of South Sudan refugees passes one million – UN
New York, Sept 16 (Just Earth News): As instability and violence persist in the world’s newest country, the number of South Sudanese seeking safety and shelter in neighbouring countries has crossed the one million mark, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday.
South Sudan: UN mission concerned at reports of intimidation of civil society members
New York, Sept 8 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern at reports of harassment and intimidation against some civil society members who met with a United Nations Security Council delegation during the latter's most recent visit to the country, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has stressed that any attempt to suppress fundamental human rights must be condemned in no uncertain terms.
South Sudan: Hundreds of children recruited into armed groups, reports UNICEF
New York, Aug 19 (Just Earth News): Reporting that 650 children have been recruited into armed groups in South Sudan since January, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNCEF) called on Friday for an immediate end to recruitment and an unconditional release of all children by armed actors.
Security Council approves regional protection force for UN mission in South Sudan
New York, Aug 13 (Just Earth News): The Security Council on Friday authorized a 4,000-strong regional protection force within the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), “responsible for providing a secure environment in and around Juba,†the capital, which in early July was the scene of the latest eruption of deadly violence in the young country, exacerbating an already desperate humanitarian situation.
South Sudan: Scale of refugee exodus straining capacity in neighbouring countries, warns UN
New York, Aug 12 (Just Earth News): The countries hosting refugees from their crisis-gripped neighbour, South Sudan, are straining under the sheer weight of the ongoing exodus as desperate people continue to arrive at their borders daily, joining hundreds of thousands of others that fled for safety before them, the United Nations has warned.
South Sudan crisis deepens as once-stable areas fall into violence – UN relief chief
New York, Aug 11 (Just Earth News): Recently returned from a three-day visit to South Sudan, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien on Wednesday painted a grave picture of the enormous humanitarian crisis facing the world’s newest country and the devastating impact of the ongoing violence on its people.
Perpetrators of sexual violence in South Sudan 'will be held accountable' – UN envoy
New York, Aug 9 (Just Earth News): Vowing to “fight†to the end to see that all perpetrators of rape and violence against women and girls in crisis-torn South Sudan are held to account, the United Nations envoy on sexual violence in conflict on Monday said it is extremely important for the Government to take all necessary action to put an end to such crimes.
UN chief welcomes South Sudan's acceptance of African-led regional protection force
New York, Aug 8 (Just Earth News): Welcoming the Government of South Sudan's acceptance of a regional protection force to help quell the ongoing violence in the country, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday called on all South Sudanese parties to uphold their responsibility to protect civilians and to demonstrate their commitment to a peace agreement, “the only viable path†out of the crisis.