The number of South Sudanese seeking safety and shelter in neighbouring countries has crossed the one million mark, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
Advertisement
The United Nations on Friday announced that South Sudan conflict has produced a million refugees, a “very sad milestone” reached only by Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.
South Sudan won its independence in July 2011 after its separation from Sudan following a civil war that lasted 25 years.
The UNHCR said over 185,000 people had fled South Sudan since the renewed fighting which erupted in the capital in Juba early July between forces led by President Salva Kiir and those loyal to former first vice president Riek Machar.
UNHCR spokesperson Leo Dobbs said that “humanitarian organisations are finding it very hard for logistical, security and funding reasons to provide urgent protection and assistance to the hundreds of thousands in need”.
The basic relief items for children, women and the elderly would then be transported from Entebbe to the Pagiarinya settlement in Adjumani District by humanitarian agencies and the Ugandan authorities.
Ethiopia (292,000) and Sudan (247,317) are the second and third largest hosts to people fleeing South Sudan. Another 1.61 million people are displaced inside the country, it said. “Many children have lost one or both of their parents, some forced to become primary caregivers to younger siblings”, said Dobbs. “Many refugees arrive exhausted after days walking in the bush and going without food or water”, UNHCR said.
The report by The Sentry, which was co-founded by actor George Clooney, charged that the civil war is being fueled by competition among rivals over national resources such as oil.
In its report, the US-based watchdog said the leaders and their families “often live in multimillion-dollar mansions outside the country, stay in five-star hotels, reap the benefits of what appears to be a system of nepotism and shady corporate deals, and drive around in luxury cars”.
In meetings with Government officials, the Commission members touched on critical issues of accountability, particularly in respect of previous and current investigations and inquiries that the government has either conducted, instituted or committed to, the press release said, noting that these issues included the establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, the Bill amending the Penal Code to incorporate worldwide crimes and the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing.
Advertisement
Responding to the allegations, presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said they were “completely rubbish” and legal action would be taken against the Sentry group.
