Resurgence of communal war threat to peace – warns activist
A civil society activist has said the resurgence of conflict in different parts of the country, namely Agok, Pibor and Ruweng, is a threat to the Revitalised Peace Agreement.
The Chairman of Greater Upper Nile Concerned Youths for Peace and Stability (GUNCY-PAS), Guot Gabriel Manyang, condemned the recent conflict in Agok and said the escalation of conflict in the three areas jeopardises the operations of humanitarian agencies in the country.
He said the conflict could worsen the humanitarian situation in the area.
This comes after the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) and Abyei Administration said an estimated 70,000 people have been displaced by fighting in the Abyei Administrative Area since inter-communal clashes broke out on February 10, 2022.
Several people have been killed and others injured.
In recent weeks, inter-communal tensions have increased in Abyei Administrative Area (AAA) over a long-standing territorial dispute regarding the Anet settlement and its environs.
“If you are aggrieved, you can open a case against the other party rather than have the option of fighting each other,” Guot said.
He termed the humanitarian situation in some parts of the country “bad” and urged the international community and the South Sudan government to urgently intervene.
“Service delivery and total instability are at stake. Without stability, there are no services, and without services, there is no human survival, “Guot emphasised.
Save the Children has also announced the suspension of its operations in Agok, Abyei Administrative Area, and relocated staff due to the violence that erupted last week.
It follows Medical Sans Frontieres (MSF), which suspended its activities following the recent violence in the area.
Reports say Agok town is currently deserted.
Some 20 people were reportedly killed during the attacks. Many were injured, and there are reports of the destruction of public and private infrastructure and psychological harm in the Agok general area.
An NGO staff was killed and two injured in the inter-communal clashes. The violence has also resulted in the relocation of some 700 aid workers and their families from Agok and Juljok to various locations such as Abyei town and other areas in South Sudan.
Humanitarian crisis popping
Most of the displaced people who fled to Abyei town stay with host communities. Others are camping by the roadside, under trees, or sheltered in public school buildings. An inter-agency humanitarian needs assessment team began to verify the reports of displacements and humanitarian needs yesterday and will do so today.
As a result of the clashes, the hospital run by an international NGO in Agok town and nearly all of southern Abyei’s 10 primary health facilities are no longer functional. Around 19 critical patients were relocated to the UNISFA Level II hospital in Abyei town on February 12, 2022. A child reportedly died during the relocation. Two injured NGO staff were evacuated by air ambulance on 14 February.
At the request of NGO and UN agency focal points, UNISFA is currently providing security to their compounds in Agok and Juljok and the WFP warehouse in Agok and Myom Ngok, in southern Abyei.
The level of violence and destruction has caused Save the Children to suspend all programmes in the city – including health, food, education, and child protection programmes.
Mohamed Dahir, Save the Children’s Interim Country Director in South Sudan, said:
Mohamed said: “It is imperative that both parties to this conflict provide humanitarian staff with unhindered access and safety guarantees so that we can continue our project and prevent further suffering.”
“We strongly urge local authorities to protect civilians, and ensure that humanitarian agencies such as Save the Children can continue to provide services to children and families.”
