The number of South Sudanese who have fled their conflict-ridden homeland for a neighboring country passed 1 million this week following renewed violence, the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said Friday.
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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. Ethiopia (292,000) and Sudan (247,317) are the second and third largest hosts to people fleeing South Sudan. “They include survivors of violent attacks, sexual assault, children that have been separated from their parents or travelled alone, the disabled, the elderly and people in need of urgent medical care”, Dobbs said.
The newly appointed Minister of Petroleum, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, who acted as spokesperson during the visit to South Sudan, told reporters on Thursday upon arrival at Juba airport that the visit to South Africa was to discuss bilateral issues between the two countries and solicit recognition of the controversial leadership of the new vice president, Gai, who replaced Machar in July. Over the past week alone, Uganda recorded more than 20,000 new arrivals from its neighbor, the United Nations agency said.
“These countries have commendably kept their doors open to the new arrivals”, UNHCR said.
The report said South Sudan President Salva Kiir, former deputy Riek Machar and those close to both men have looted the country, with luxury cars, business stakes and mansions overseas.
He also reported that insecurity in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria province has significantly affected the United Nations agency’s ability to access and assist thousands of refugees inside the country itself.
But it has been deeply disappointed by the country’s descent into chaos and civil war between President Salva Kiir and his former vice president Riek Machar.
Insecurity in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria has also significantly affected UNHCR’s ability to access and assist thousands of refugees inside South Sudan itself.
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Actors George Clooney, left center, and Don Cheadle, right, during a press conference to discuss an investigation about corruption in South Sudan at the National Press Club in Washington, Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. “We appeal to donors to step up funding”, he added. We and other partners have consistently made clear to South Sudanese leaders that they must implement reforms to fight corruption and increase the transparency of public finances, as part of implementing the peace agreement.
