Mr. Jonathan Edgar:

I am here today with my colleague, Ms Fiona Gannon, who has recently returned from South Sudan and can bear witness to the tragedy unfolding in the world’s newest country. Fighting broke out in South Sudan back in December 2013. Since the second peace agreement was signed on 9 May 2014 continued fighting across South Sudan has been the norm. I agree with my colleague from Oxfam that it is heartening to hear about the agreement that was signed in Addis Ababa yesterday and the positive rhetoric from both leaders in terms of a commitment to form a transitional government of national unity in 60 days. However, there is some degree of scepticism about this and political will is required to ensure that it happens.

In just under five months since the conflict began the situation has deteriorated considerably resulting in 1.3 million people fleeing from their homes with an estimated 300,000 migrating as refugees to neighbouring countries. Humanitarian actors have warned that by the end of this year half of all South Sudanese citizens could experience forced displacement within the country or as external refugees. According to the United Nations, South Sudan is likely to face the worst famine since the Ethiopia famine of 1984-85, with potentially up to 4 million people affected, of whom 2.5 million are children. UNICEF is predicting that 50,000 children under the age of five are likely to die this year alone.

GOAL has been operational in South Sudan since 1998 and our first priority throughout this crisis has been to continue to support the 500,000 people who are currently dependent on us for primary health care, nutrition, clean water, immunisation and their basic livelihoods. All of GOAL’s areas of operations continue to be affected by the conflict, which is largely taking place in three of the ten states of South Sudan. One of the most affected is the Upper Nile State which continues to see active fighting.

GOAL provides health, nutrition and sanitation services to displaced people from Balliet and Ulang counties which have become divided since this post-December conflict, with Balliet having been ransacked in January and a fault-line opening up along pro-Government and anti-Government lines along this county border. The mostly Dinka population from Balliet fled, seeking sanctuary, first to Malakal which in turn was attacked several times. GOAL has followed these people as they move to ensure we can continue to access health care facilities, as well as providing a nutrition and sanitation through mobile clinics. We see the devastation these people face as every time they move the conflict follows. It is putting major pressure on our humanitarian aid response to ensure we can keep up with the movement.

There have been almost 200,000 people displaced into the neighbouring country of Ethiopia. Since March of this year GOAL has established a refugee response programme across the border in the Gambella region of Ethiopia where we have been delivering nutrition support to 15,000 of the most severely malnourished who have crossed into that country in search of assistance. We are currently engaged in dialogue with Concern about working in collaboration to expand that programme and reach more people.

Refugees are currently arriving in the Gambella region at a daily rate of 1,200, which requires a new refugee camp holding 50,000 people to be opened every 42 days in Gambella. This population is primarily made of up women and children with almost 70% of the population being aged less than 18 years of age.

GOAL is monitoring closely the escalating refugee problem across Ethiopia and several of South Sudan’s neighbouring countries. If famine strikes, as has been predicted, it is our opinion that the refugee crisis will become a catastrophe. In Twic and Agok, we not only continue our programming in these challenging areas, but we have responded to displaced people from Unity State, where there is still active conflict. GOAL is providing health and nutrition services for around 15,000 displaced people here, along with a water and sanitation programme.

Let me stress that while not all areas of South Sudan have experienced heavy fighting, the entire country is to one degree or another affected by this conflict, manifesting itself in a disruption to markets, a reduction in agricultural production and mass population migration. This has led to extreme burdens on an already fragile basic infrastructure. Before the conflict, South Sudan was in a fragile situation. The pattern of displacement has encouraged a particular focus on those citizens who have sought refuge at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS compounds. There are also a large number of people who are not compounds who are choosing to locate in smaller concentrations in rural locations, believing that is a safer option for them during the conflict. This bring its own problems for the humanitarian response. The combination of factors such as ongoing displacement of people, a poor cropping season, widespread market disruption, subsequent high food prices and resulting low income sources will in our opinion lead to what is being predicted as significant food insecurity and even famine

In addition, there have been multiple reports accusing government and non-government forces of targeting civilians based on their ethnicity. A report in May by UNMISS stated that there are reasonable grounds to believe that violations of international human rights and humanitarian law have been committed by both parties to the conflict. Those violations include enforced disappearances, rape and other acts of sexual violence, arbitrary arrests and detention, targeted attacks against civilians and attacks on hospitals and day centres. Even prior to the current crisis logistical access in South Sudan for humanitarian staff and relief items was volatile due to limited transport infrastructure and annual rains and floods which make up to 60% of the country inaccessible by road, at the best of times.

The level of humanitarian funding, as referenced by Oxfam, available for South Sudan, even post-Oslo, is insufficient when compared to the unmet needs on the ground. The crisis response plan remains only 60% funded, and 40% unfunded. We welcome the fact that in late May, the UN Security Council authorised a revised mandate for UNMISS, with a focus on protecting civilians; monitoring and investigating human rights; creating the conditions for delivery of humanitarian assistance; and supporting the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement ahead of state-building activities. Funding is needed to be channelled to humanitarian activities. The revised mandate emphasises that protection of civilians must be given priority in decisions about the use of available capacity and resources within the mission. We in GOAL cannot stress that enough. Notwithstanding that, more needs to be done. Violence against civilians must stop, and the protection of civilians must be a priority. A ceasefire agreement is only the first step in a longer-term peace process, requiring sustained commitment to addressing the deeper issues. The latest crisis in South Sudan must be seen as part of a longer-term protracted crisis, with its roots heavily laid in unresolved ethnic rivalries, lack of accountable and responsive government and limited access to basic services and livelihood opportunities.

There is a need to remove all formal and inform barriers to access for humanitarian staff, relief items and resources, including expansion of cross border access to enable NGOs bring relief items in from Sudan and Ethiopia. Finally, funding of the South Sudan humanitarian crisis despite pledging conferences is lower than anticipated and this must be addressed.