Seven Steps to Assisting the People of South Sudan

Published: May 14, 2014 Reading time: 6 minutes

Statement by Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), 

On 20 May 2014, the international community will convene in Oslo, Norway, to discuss how to address the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. In just under 5 months since fighting erupted, the situation in South Sudan has deteriorated severely, and where almost 1.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including almost 300,000 to neighbouring countries. Over 4 million people, including over 2.5 million children, are now extremely vulnerable to food insecurity, as a result of the on-going violence and attacks on civilians. This crisis is worsening on a daily basis. Humanitarian actors have warned that by the end of this year half of all South Sudanese citizens could experience displacement, severe food insecurity, experience life as a refugee and/or face protection threats. The undersigned Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) call on UN member states and others to urgently focus on clear and immediate actions to provide assistance to the people of South Sudan and bring to bear national, regional and international support to this end.  Furthermore, an inclusive and viable political framework for ending conflict is critical. As such, the below steps are urged in order to provide coherent assistance to the people of South Sudan.

Seven Steps to Assisting the People of South Sudan
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1) Timely funding of the humanitarian response is critical to saving countless lives and preventing further suffering in the coming months and to supporting resilience from further shocks. Despite some generous contributions the overall donor response to the humanitarian crisis has been disappointing. The UN humanitarian appeal for South Sudan for January-June 2014, remains sixty-one per cent unfunded. Traditional donors have yet to contribute close to a quarter of their fair share to the emergency response in South Sudan, and non-traditional donors, who have some the largest economies in the world, have contributed close to nothing to this crisis. 

Enabling the delivery of large-scale humanitarian assistance will have a clear and tangible benefit in the immediate term allowing supplies to be pre-positioned and delivered to affected populations. It will ensure that an already beleaguered population has access to life saving water, sanitation, healthcare and shelter services and items, and to reinforce protection of the most vulnerable, particularly women and children. 

The Oslo Summit presents an opportunity for donors to demonstrate resolute commitment to addressing the humanitarian needs of the South Sudanese people by generously contributing and rapidly disbursing funds to the US$1.27 billion humanitarian appeal and ensuring that all sectors are adequately funded.  

2) Protection and respect of humanitarian staff, installations and operations is vital to allow the delivery of this assistance. The safety and security of aid workers (both national and international), aid supplies and assets must be guaranteed and respected. Aid workers have been killed and thousands of national staff are unable to work in many areas due to fear of being targeted, significantly undermining the response. Aid workers must be free to work wherever assistance is needed, without fear of attack or restrictions placed upon them by parties to the conflict. 

In addition to these difficulties, access to people in need is further constrained due to deliberate bureaucratic impediments including difficulties in obtaining flight clearances and tax exemptions, and the stop and search of humanitarian convoys. Customs clearances taking an average of five weeks to obtain is one example of the bureaucratic obstacle to scaling up

Donor governments must urge all parties to the conflict, to ensure the protection  of humanitarian personnel,  and installations, and enable the safe and unfettered movement of such personnel, equipment and supplies, and ease bureaucratic procedures to allow rapid delivery of assistance. 

3) In South Sudan political and financial support to the Government of South Sudan has, until now, been generally quite high, but support to the humanitarian needs of the people has sometimes wavered. Whilst recognizing the importance of building national institutions, especially at this early stage in such a new state, there is at this time an imperative to protect the lives and security of all communities in South Sudan without delay. In the midst of the conflict, humanitarian partners on the ground have seen many positive examples of community commitments to non-violence and mutual support. In states characterized by lesser conflict, local authorities and leaders are working to protect their communities from slipping into crisis. In those states most affected by violence, NGOs and civil society organisations work tirelessly to provide health, education and other community services to the most vulnerable. While there are, and should be serious questions about providing support to the parties to the conflict, help for the people of South Sudan should never be something that is up for debate. Suspended assistance to the Government of South Sudan for building state institutions should be re-programmed to South Sudanese community services providers who offer the clearest way to support the people of South Sudan. 

4) Financial assistance though cannot be an excuse for inaction or inertia at the political level. The people of South Sudan require a viable, inclusive and transparent mediation and political process. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA, 2005) despite its successes failed to address some of the fundamental drivers of conflict and societal divisions that are being manipulated by political and military leaders. The CPA also sacrificed inclusivity in order to ensure agreement on key political and security goals. A much-needed reconciliation process was also insufficiently supported. Welcoming the signing of an initial peace agreement on 9th May which includes commitments of an immediate truce, cooperation with the IGAD Monitoring and Verification teams, inclusive political dialogue for a transitional government, it is hoped that this will result in a tangible and immediate outcomes  to enable affected populations to seek safety, access assistance and recover livelihoods. Even if peace is achieved, the crisis has created severe humanitarian needs that will need to be addressed well into next year. 

5) In addition to a new and inclusive mediation and political process, other measures need to be taken to immediately protect the people of South Sudan. The upcoming renewal of the UNMISS mandate, which current circumstances dictate be brought forward without delay, provides an opportunity to increase emphasis on the protection of civilians, and to provide greater clarity and resourcing for the UNMISS. A significant re-orientation of the UNMISS mandate and implementation framework is needed to enhance the credibility and acceptance of the mission amongst the population and to ensure UNMISS has the requisite tools to take preemptive action against threats to civilians, including those residing inside UNMISS bases. It further provides a platform from which to promote renewed respect of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) by all parties.  

6) UNMISS alone cannot protect the people of South Sudan in the face of the extraordinary violence being levied against them by the multiple armed groups in South Sudan. Engaging with clear and direct drivers of conflict is imperative, there are reportedly 1 million small arms in South Sudan and widely available to all. Tougher domestic and international measures must be explored to curb the sale, transit and flow of arms to South Sudan. 

7) Finally but importantly accountability for the violence should be a critical component in any political settlement. Building towards justice and reconciliation and contributing towards reconciling the people in South Sudan should be the genuine aim of the international community, requiring sustained diplomatic and political efforts and political will.  

Undersigned International and National Non Governmental Organisations:

1. ACTED
2. ACORD
3. Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
4. African Educational Trust (AET)
5. Association for Aid and Relief (Japan)
6. BRAC
7. CAFOD
8. Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
9. Care
10. Caritas Switzerland/Luxembourg
11. Christian Aid
12. Concern Worldwide
13. Cordaid
14. CoSV
15. Danish Church Aid
16. Danish Refugee Council
17. Finn Church Aid
18. Food for the Hungry
19. Handicap International
20. HealthNET TPO
21. HELP (Hilfe zue Selbsthifle e.v)
22. IBIS, Education for Development
23. ICCO
24. International Aid Services (IAS)
25. International Medical Corps (IMC)
26. International Refugee Council (IRC)
27. Intersos
28. Islamic Relief
29. Light for the World
30. Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
31. Mercy Corps
32. Mentor Initiative
33. Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)
34. Non Violent Peace Force
35. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
36. Oxfam
37. Pact
38. Peace Winds Japan
39. People in Need (PIN)
40. Plan International
41. Population Services International (PSI)
42. Relief International
43. Save the Children
44. Sign of Hope (Hoffnungszeichen)
45. SNV Netherlands Development Organisation
46. Tearfund
47. Terres de Homme
48. War Child Holland
49. World Vision
50. Welthungerhilfe (German Agro Action)
51. Windle Trust

 

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