
South Sudan Civil Society Forum statement on the October 31 celebration, regional protection force & more (29.10.2018)



Since February 2018, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Dr. Ruhukana Rugunda has been under fire for faking the numbers of refugees in the settlements and camps within the Republic of Uganda. Where they we’re doubling and tripling the numbers of refugees in Kampala and West Nile. These figures and set-backs have clearly sent out a memo to the United Nations Organizations. As they have been active since March 2018.
On the 20th October 2018 this has been done by United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the OPM are now verifying the amounts of refugees. This is significant, since this will establish the real numbers and how many who is really there. The individuals and their fate is more important, than their numbers, but when they have cheated on it to get more donor funding. These numbers become more vital. So, that the donations and the grants to help out these individuals come to the right ones and not being eaten by government officials.
The numbers dropped on the 20th October 2018 are after a verification exercise done in Adjumani District, this being in Bidibidi settlement on the 16th October 2018. They we’re able to target what they estimate 85% of the population there. In Bidibidi verified a total of 203,392. That is not all, but shows to what extent the refugee crisis is.
While in Kampala: “the daily turnout continues to be very low despite additional efforts on mobilization. The verification site remained open on Saturday to allow students and others to be verified over the weekend. However, over the period of six days, only 1,583 individuals were verified, majority being Congolese. In light of the low attendance, the verification team has operated at reduced capacity and the final day has been agreed by OPM-UNHCR as Wednesday 24th October” (OPM-UNHCR VERIFICATION EXERCISE: Update, 20.10.2018).
Therefore, the total estimate with all this exercises since March 2018 to 20th October 2018. Which states: “The ongoing verification of refugees in Uganda that started on 1st March 2018, verified a total of 17,428 individuals last week bringing the total as of 20th October 2018 to 1,088,415” (OPM-UNHCR VERIFICATION EXERCISE: Update, 20.10.2018).
So the are margins of error are still there. But the real crunched numbers are there. As the UNCHR wants the truth, as they are trying to collect funding for the operations of the settlements. Since the Ugandan government also wants to secure the donations too. This is all part of that and validate the need for the refugees. The scandal could block the support and trust in the agencies and the rampant forgery of numbers earlier in the year. This exercise was needed to build trust. Now the accuracy is more likely there. They might still try to find a way to inflate it, but it will be harder. Because the base-numbers through the verification makes it harder.
This was needed because of the lie, the lie of the numbers. These are now shattered. Now, the reality is there. It is still a million refugees and they need help. Both in the present, but also for building their future. That perspective is needed. This is people who fled burning villages, militias and armies fighting each other. They need space and trust to grow and rebuild. These people are trying to build a home. That is what should be focus and giving them hope in a dire situation. They are not just numbers.
Even if this story has been about the baseline numbers of refugees in the republic. That is because of the OPM inflated numbers to cheat donors funds. To earn money on their tragedy. That shall not be forgotten. But in the same manner. We need to discuss, how we can give this people hope for a better tomorrow. Peace.

The project is designed to enable the Government meet the country’s growing food and nutrition needs, while building community resilience.
JUBA, South Sudan, October 24, 2018 – The Government of the Republic of South Sudan today welcomed a contribution of US$ 43.57 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB.org) for the implementation of the country’s Short-Term Regional Emergency Response Project (STRERP).
The project is designed to enable the Government meet the country’s growing food and nutrition needs, while building community resilience, as hunger reaches unprecedented levels in the country. It will also support ongoing longer-term efforts to improve the people’s resilience and food security, including tens of thousands displaced by the ongoing conflict in eight regions – Northern Bhar El Ghazal, Western Bahar el Ghazal, Lakes, Jonglei, Unity, Western Equatoria, Warrap and Upper Nile regions.
The grant will be implemented by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) (WFP.org). WFP and partners are scaling up food and cash assistance to reach up to 5 million people in the worst-affected areas of South Sudan by the end of 2018. Despite the harvest in September, as many as 5.2 million people will remain in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 3 (Crisis), not knowing where their next meal would come from between January and March 2019, with some 36,000 people forecast to be in Phase 5 (Catastrophe), experiencing famine-like conditions in parts of the country, according to the latest IPC report (bit.ly/2EGdxdD).
“We are very grateful for the contribution from the Bank,” said Adnan Khan, WFP Country Director in South Sudan. “It will go a long way in helping us provide life-saving support at a critical period and ensure people have the means to feed themselves not only today but also in the future.” WFP activities are designed both to address immediate food needs while promoting the ability of vulnerable communities to withstand future shocks to their food security. WFP provides various kinds of assistance – food for people building and restoring community assets, life-saving emergency food, emergency school feeding and the treatment of malnutrition among children, and pregnant and nursing women.
“STRERP reflects the Bank’s commitment to support its Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in addressing the drivers of food insecurity and unstable food production systems.” said Benedict Kanu, the Bank’s Country Manager in South Sudan. “The Bank’s approach goes beyond addressing the immediate humanitarian needs through food assistance, but also seeks to build resilience of the affected communities and strengthen the capacity of government institutions to effectively plan, coordinate and implement disaster risk management and humanitarian responses. We call on all development partners to work together to address the underlying drivers of vulnerability in drought-prone areas.”




There are still signs of trouble within the Republic of South Sudan. Even if the parties has signed the Khartoum Agreement and the Revitalized Agreement for a Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Where the parties of the civil war has signed the deals and ratified the agreements within the parties as well. You can wonder if they will follow the cease-fire and the stop the race for being supreme. As the wounds are still there and the war-lords are still out and about.
There also hope that these parties might reach a final verdict and peace. But if they are willingly doing so. As they have violated the cease-fire and used their weapons on civilians. The JMEC has already questioned how much the parties has done to fulfil the R-ARCSS on the 12 October, that said the parties has only done 35 % of the agreement. Therefore, the stakeholders has actions to do. This is the reality, as well as the 28th June 2018 Khartoum Declaration. With knowing this.
The timeline of this of OHCHR, where this is actions happening after the Khartoum Declaration and before the R-ARCSS. This is clear violations of these agreements. That is why this isn’t only crimes against humanity, but in violations of recent agreements done by both parties. That should be thought of, as the matter remains and the war-lords are still roaming. That is why these sort of violations are showing signs, where the parties might not being fully committed to the agreed upon peace agreement.
Take a look!
“Between April and August 2018, civilians have borne the brunt of repeated attacks by SPLA IO (RM) and SPLA forces, caught between their predatory tactics. At least 28 villages, one IDP settlement and one refugee camp, in the states of Gbudue and Tambura (Western Equatoria) were attacked. A decrease in attacks was recorded from August onwards” (OHCHR, 18.10.2018)
“Through its investigation, UNMISS HRD found that at least 887 civilians were abducted. Most of the victims were women (505) and girls (63). Considering the high prevalence of rape in cases of abduction by SPLA-IO (RM) forces, UNMISS HRD and OHCHR are concerned that these women and girls have been raped and/or sexually enslaved, consistent with trends of sexual violence documented in South Sudan since 2014. They are also concerned that abducted men and boys have been forcibly recruited to “build up an army”, as claimed by an SPLA-IO (RM) commander. In addition, UNMISS HRD documented extensive looting of civilian property and forced displacement. Humanitarian organizations, particularly their convoys, have been targeted in armed ambushes and their personnel abducted for several days before being released, unlike most local civilians who are still held captive” (OHCHR, 18.10.2018).
“SPLA forces carried out a few counter-offensives against SPLA-IO (RM), while becoming more aggressive towards civilians at security checkpoints or during reconnaissance patrols. In particular, during the Nagero offensive in May 2018, SPLA elements did not comply with the principles of distinction between military objectives and civilian objects, as well as between civilians and combatants. This led to serious international human rights and humanitarian law violations, resulting in unlawful killing of civilians, looting and destruction of civilian property” (OHCHR, 18.10.2018).
That this are reports made from one part of South Sudan. Not the whole republic, but shows to what extent the two major armies and parties are doing. This is what the SPLM/A-IO and TgoNU are up too. This is the works of Dr. Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir Mayardit. That they are in-charge and done this to civilians, they have violated their rights and killed without mercy. These women and children were abducted and taken away, because of how the war-lords saw the possibility to use them for their cause. Not for their or anything, they are casualties of war and has lost everything because it. Used and scorned by warriors, defenceless and taken.
This because of two men wants to be supreme and show it with force. Even as they are pledging peace to the world. This report shows that the first months of cease-fire has still cost people life, burned down their villages and taken women and children away, because of their need to show strength towards their enemies. Peace.
Reference:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – ‘VIOLATIONS AND ABUSES AGAINST CIVILIANS IN GBUDUE AND TAMBURA STATES (WESTERN EQUATORIA) – APRIL-AUGUST 2018’ 18.10.2018




Corroborated victim and witness accounts indicate that women and girls as young as 12, abducted by opposition forces, were paraded and lined up for commanders to choose as “wives”.
GENEVA, Switzerland, October 18, 2018 – A UN report has documented the immense suffering of civilians in the Western Equatoria region of South Sudan where 900 people were abducted and 24,000 forced to flee their homes during a surge in violence between April and August.
In April 2018, after several months of relative calm, the pro-Riek Machar Sudan People’s Liberation Army in-Opposition (SPLA-IO (RM)) intensified attacks against villages and targeted civilians in Gbudue and Tambura. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA)’s offensives to dislodge SPLA-IO (RM) forces also resulted in harm to civilians, as these operations failed to distinguish between civilians and combatants, the report by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the UN Human Rights Office says.
Corroborated victim and witness accounts indicate that women and girls as young as 12, abducted by opposition forces, were paraded and lined up for commanders to choose as “wives”. Those who were not chosen were left for other fighters who subjected them to repeated rapes. Abducted young men and boys were forced to be fighters or used as porters.
“Most of the abducted civilians are, as far as we know, still being held captive. The SPLA-IO (RM) must immediately release them, first and foremost the children,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. “As part of the revitalised peace process, it is also essential that the Government of South Sudan acts to hold the perpetrators of the abuses and violations detailed in this report to account.”
he Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, David Shearer, said it was disappointing that the spike in violence took place while warring parties were negotiating a new peace agreement and despite positive reconciliation efforts in the affected community at the time.“A new peace agreement has been signed which puts the onus and responsibility on the warring parties to ensure that no atrocities are committed in future. UNMISS will be closely monitoring any potential violations and abuses,” said David Shearer.
The report documented SPLA-IO (RM) attacks on at least 28 villages, a settlement of internally displaced persons and a refugee camp, in Gbudue and Tambura. Serious abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law occurred during these attacks, including unlawful killings, abduction, rape, sexual slavery, forced recruitment, and destruction of property.
UNMISS Human Rights Division has identified three SPLA-IO (RM) commanders who allegedly had effective command and control of the forces committing these abuses, which may amount to war crimes.
SPLA forces also carried out military operations that were characterized by serious violations, including unlawful killings and destruction of civilian property, particularly around Nagero in May 2018.
Among its recommendations, the report calls for accountability and for the reinforcement of existing recovery and resilience programmes to re-establish access to basic services, particularly medical and psychosocial support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and for the provision of economic alternatives for young fighters.



