UN staff released unharmed

How is the world reacting to the instability in South Sudan?

On 18^th April 2017, a group of 100 unarmed South Sudanese refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo released 13 UN mission staff hostages. These refugees are amongst 530 who fled South Sudan in August 2016. The UN’s Goma bureau head, Daniel Ruiz also stated that most of these refugees were loyal to the former Vice President Riek Machar. The UN also declared that all hostages returned unharmed and no casualties were reported. 

What led to the refugee crisis in South Sudan?

South Sudan formed after gaining independence from Sudan after years of civil war and ethnic clashes. Civil war broke out in the oil-producing South Sudan in 2013 when President Kiir accused and sacked Machar from the vice-presidency for planning a coup. The conflict ended with a peace pact in 2015 and Machar was reinstated early last year but tensions between the two men lingered and new fighting began in July. Salva Kiir and Riek Machar have also been accused of inciting ethnic clashes causing a mass exodus of certain tribes such as the much-maligned Nuer tribe. been The UN estimates about 3 million South Sudanese have been displaced by the violence, the biggest cross-border exodus in Africa since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Today South Sudan has the third largest refugee crisis after Syria and Afghanistan.

What is the current situation of the nation?

Political and economic crisis coupled with famine has forced over 3.6 million citizens to flee their homes, where 1.5 million escaped to the safety of neighbouring countries while 2.1 million are trapped inside the warring country. It is estimated that today, over 5.1 million people are in need of medical aid and 4.8 million others are facing hunger.

What are the reactions of the world community?

Despite U.N. appeal in 2015 for $1.6 billion to assist the affected, the funds generated amounted only about 62 percent. Moreover only 88 percent of the $1.29 billion requested for the year 2016 has been funded. Many humanitarian organizations, including Mercy Corps, are partnering with the U.N., using both private contributions and funding from the international community, to address the urgent needs of innocent people in South Sudan.

The escalating tensions within the country have led to influx of refugees into countries like Uganda to peak at 5,000 in a single day. The UNHRC has claimed that this situation puts the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) adopted by Uganda and 5 other countries in September to test. This approach attempts to integrate humanitarian efforts with development ones such as providing land to refugees, national development plans and job creation.

Assessment

Refugee camps can only act as temporary places of shelter and aid. Governments need to address refugee’s concerns along with maintaining political stability. Instability, violence and lack of support prevent refugees from returning to their families, their homes and their homeland. This will result in lack of job growth and development leading to decline in the economy. The efforts put by the neighbouring countries like Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo are at a risk of failing unless there is urgent and large-scale additional support.