The number of South Sudanese refugees taking shelter in neighboring countries soared past the 1 million mark this week, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
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The country is one of the biggest supporters of the South Sudanese people, providing basic services including health and education that are essential for the population’s future, as well as massive lifesaving assistance that has helped avert starvation over the last two years.
The country gained independence in July 2011, but descended into war in December 2013, after President Salva Kiir accused the former vice president, Riek Machar, of plotting a coup to usurp power. Weeks after Machar flew back to Juba this year to return to his government post, fighting again erupted in July.
The report said the chief of staff of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, Gen. Paul Malong Awan, who officially makes about $45,000 a year, owns at least two luxurious villas in Uganda and a $2 million mansion in a gated community in Nairobi.
Most of those most recently uprooted have crossed into Uganda, bringing the total number of South Sudanese refugees in the country to almost 375,000.
Before it’s here, it’s on the Bloomberg Terminal. The other three are Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.
“Without further funding and support, we and our partners will struggle to assist the needy with even the most basic assistance”, said the UNHCR spokesperson, calling on donors to provide $701 million for South Sudan refugee operations, of which 20 per cent has been funded. “Many women and girls said they were sexually assaulted during their flight”.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says her country will support an arms embargo on South Sudan if the government there continues to prevent peacekeepers from moving around freely to protect civilians. The government calls the plan a violation of its sovereignty.
In addition to instituting an arms embargo and imposing targeted sanctions, the Halt Arms and Promote Peace in South Sudan Act would lay the groundwork for a recovery and reconstruction program to help the country rebuild after 180 days of ceasefire.
The invitation was delivered by the new First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai, who went to South Africa last week in an attempt to solicit support from the South African government and its ruling African national congress (ANC).
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The U.N. Security Council on September 14 held consultations on South Sudan’s ongoing crisis.
