Nearly two-thirds of the population in South Sudan at risk of rising hunger (26.02.2018)

Sustained assistance and access critical to prevent hunger reaching its highest level ever.

JUBA, South Sudan, February 26, 2018 -More than 7 million people in South Sudan – almost two-thirds of the population – could become severely food insecure in the coming months without sustained humanitarian assistance and access, three United Nations agencies warned today.

If this happens, this will be the highest ever number of food insecure people in South Sudan. The period of greatest risk will be the lean season, between May and July. Particularly at risk are 155,000 people, including 29,000 children, who could suffer from the most extreme levels of hunger.

In January, 5.3 million people, or nearly half of the population, were already struggling to find enough food each day and were in “crisis” or “emergency” levels of food insecurity (IPC Phases 3 and 4), according to an Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released today.

This represents a 40 percent increase in the number of severely food insecure people compared to January 2017.

The report comes one year after famine was declared in parts of South Sudan in February 2017.

Improved access and a massive humanitarian response succeeded in containing and averting famine later last year. Despite this, the food insecurity outlook has never been so dire as it is now.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) warn that progress made to prevent people from dying of hunger could be undone, and more people than ever could be pushed into severe hunger and famine-like conditions during May-July unless assistance and access are maintained.

“The situation is extremely fragile, and we are close to seeing another famine. The projections are stark. If we ignore them, we’ll be faced with a growing tragedy. If farmers receive support to resume their livelihoods, we will see a rapid improvement in the country’s food security situation due to increased local production,” said Serge Tissot, FAO Representative in South Sudan.

A growing tragedy that must not be ignored

Overall hunger levels have risen due to protracted conflict that led to reduced food production and constantly disrupted livelihoods. This was further exacerbated by economic collapse, which impacted markets and trade, making them unable to compensate for the decrease in local food production.

Prolonged dry spells, flooding and continued pest infestation, such as Fall Armyworm, have also had a damaging impact.

“The situation is deteriorating with each year of conflict as more people lose the little they had. We are alarmed as the lean season when the harvest runs out is expected to start this year much earlier than usual,” said Adnan Khan, WFP Representative and Country Director. “Unless we can pre-position assistance rather than mount a more costly response during the rains, more families will struggle to survive.”

In areas like Unity, Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Central Equatoria, riddled by reoccurring outbreaks of violent conflict and displacement, the proportion of people suffering from extreme food insecurity ranges from 52 to 62 percent – more than half the states’ combined population. The number is expected to keep increasing unless people find the means to receive, produce or buy their own food.

Mapping hunger – projections for the first half of 2018

  • February-April 2018:  6.3 million people in IPC Phases 3 (“Crisis”), 4 (“Emergency”) and 5 (Catastrophe). This includes 50,000 people in IPC Phase 5.
  • May-July 2018: 7.1 million people in IPC Phases 3, 4 and 5. This includes 155,000 people in IPC Phase 5.

1.3 million children under five at risk of acute malnutrition

Conflict and worsening hunger have led to already soaring rates of malnutrition. Without assistance, as of May, more than 1.3 million children under five will be at risk of acute malnutrition.

Malnutrition rates are set to rise once the rainy season starts in April. Once this happens, many communities will become isolated and unable to reach medical services. The rains will make the country’s dirt roads unusable, and it will become more and more difficult to deliver supplies to medical centres.

“We are preparing for rates of severe malnutrition among children never before seen in this country,” said Mahimbo Mdoe, UNICEF’s Representative in South Sudan. “Without an urgent response and access to those most in need, many children will die. We cannot allow that to happen.”

Of particular concern are the areas around Leer, Mayendit, Longochuk and Renk where children under five face extremely critical levels of malnutrition.

Response to date

Last year, FAO, WFP, UNICEF and their partners rolled out their largest ever aid campaign, saving lives and containing famine. In 2017, agency partners conducted more than 135 rapid humanitarian missions to the most hard-to-reach areas, providing life-saving assistance to over 1.8 million people.

FAO provided 5 million people – many in difficult-to-reach or conflict-affected areas – with seeds and tools for planting, and fishing kits in 2017. FAO has also vaccinated more than 6.1 million livestock to keep animals alive and healthy. This has been vital as most of the population rely on livestock for their survival.

UNICEF and partners admitted some 208,000 children with severe acute malnutrition in 2017 and plan to reach 215,000 this year. Together with WFP, UNICEF took part in 51 rapid response missions in 2017 to reach communities cut off from regular aid assistance. The Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) will remain a key means of accessing conflict-affected communities in the coming months.

At the peak of its response this year, WFP aims to reach 4.4 million people with life-saving food and nutrition assistance. WFP is pre-positioning food in areas likely to be cut off during the rainy season, so people will not go hungry. WFP plans to pre-position 140,000 metric tons of food and nutrition supplies – 20 percent more than in 2017 – in more than 50 locations across the country.

South Sudan: 19 Senior Officers of the SPLM/A-IO deflects to National Salvation Front (NAS) – (26.02.2018)

South Sudan: The OCHA Report of February 2018 shows that the state systematically does crimes against humanity!

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report on South Sudan on the 23rd February 2018 to the Human Rights Council. It has some striking finds that the OCHA has been able to collect from the recent events in the Republic of South Sudan. These should not go unnoticed as the misuse of force and power, should be questioned. That the government and war-lords are continuing to salvage whatever left and spending their time on their power, instead of building a nation.

This report is spelling out devious attempts to control power and also vicious malicious acts against humanity. That should not be left in the blind. Maybe the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement/Army – In Government (SPLM/A-IG) doesn’t want this out, neither does the President Salva Kiir Mayardiit. The OCHA reports shows this and therefore, the continuation of the civil war are reasons for all of this.

Civilians Attacked:

Evidence shows that the SPLA has launched attacks directed against the civilian population where no opposition armed forces have been present to justify a military attack, and has intentionally killed unarmed and fleeing civilians in the incidents investigated by the Commission. The consistent narrative that emerges from these attacks against civilians and intentional killings is that they have been undertaken in retaliation for battlefield losses or killings of SPLA soldiers by opposition forces, or because civilians have been perceived to be sympathetic to the opposition due to their ethnicity or their place of residence in an opposition controlled area” (OCHA, P: 5, 2018).

Sexual and Gender Based Violence:

The Commission paid special attention to sexual and gender-based violence which remains a central feature of the conflict. The Commission documented many accounts of rape, gang rape, forced stripping or nudity, forced sexual acts, castration and mutilation of genitalia, which were perpetrated by the SPLA, the Mathiang Anyoor, National Security Services personnel and Military Intelligence, as well as SPLA-IO, during military attacks in Greater Upper Nile, the Equatorias and Greater Bahr el Ghazal” (OCHA, P: 6, 2018).

Recruiting Child Soldiers:

Confidential documents received by the Commission showed extensive presence of children among the SPLA and SPLA-IO (TD) forces in Upper Nile. The Commission also observed children associated with armed forces and armed groups in Eastern and Central Equatorias, on the West Bank of the Nile, and in Western Bahr el Ghazal, some as young as twelve years old. Children told the Commission of being abducted from outside their homes and schools, and of voluntarily joining armed forces and groups to protect themselves and their families. Some children were forced to kill civilians or loot, and were subjected to corporal punishment if they did not obey orders. A recent report by the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) (2018/2) suggests that “the recruitment and employment of ‘child soldiers’ goes on throughout the country.” (OHCA, P: 6, 2018).

Extra-Judicial Killings in Yei:

The Commission received numerous reports of extra-judicial killing of civilians, particularly of young men suspected of supporting the SPLA-IO. SPLA soldiers also repeatedly abducted civilians who were later found dead. UNMISS Human Rights Division documented the killing of 114 civilians by pro-Government forces around Yei between mid-July 2016 and mid-January 2017, pointing out that the actual number of fatalities and injuries is likely to be much higher” (OHCA, P: 7, 2018).

Crimes in the Pajok:

The Commission finds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the SPLA intentionally directed attacks against the civilian population and deliberately killed civilians in Pajok on 3 April 2017. Furthermore, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the SPLA engaged in systematic looting and theft of private property either for personal or organisational use in the aftermath of the attack. The SPLA attack on civilians in Pajok in 2017 directly led to the displacement of nearly the entire population of the town” (OHCA, P: 10, 2018).

Crimes in the Wau:

The Commission finds reasonable grounds to believe that SPLA soldiers engaged in killings of civilians, and looting and destruction of private property in Wau town on 24-25 June 2016 and killings of civilians in Wau town on 10 April 2017. These amount to serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, and may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity” (OHCA, P: 11, 2018).

Crimes in the West Bank:

Based on the evidence collected, the Commission finds reasonable grounds to believe that SPLA soldiers deliberately killed civilians and extensively looted and destroyed civilian property during their ground offensive along the West bank of the Nile in 2017. The evidence provides reasonable grounds to believe that the SPLA directed attacks against the civilian population. These amount to serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, and may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity” (OHCA, P: 12, 2018).

Crimes in Pagak:

The Commission finds reasonable grounds to believe that SPLA soldiers engaged in killings of civilians, rape and other forms of conflict-related sexual violence, theft or pillage, and destruction of civilian and humanitarian objects in Mathiang, Maiwut, and Pagak and the surrounding villages and areas during its offensive in south-eastern Upper Nile in 2017. The evidence provides reasonable grounds to believe that the SPLA directed attacks against the civilian population” (OHCA, P: 14, 2018).

This is just the collection of the evidence that the OCHR has, and surely there are more stories not told, because of fear or because the people who flee from the battleground couldn’t speak of the violence. The assessment of the matter, is that this report is only preliminary, as the state are muffling the voices of discontent and tried to silence the local media. So we know that the UN OHCA has collected a good dose of evidence and documentation, that can verify the violations against human rights and humanitarian laws. That the state and army together in the violations, also the militias who are doing their part too.

That the SPLA has been a common denominator many parts of the Republic, should also worry as the state sanctioned violence is the reason for lots of the crimes against humanity. That they have attacked directly the ones they are supposed to defend and secure the citizens. They should not be known for terrorizing and destroying the society for the gains of the President. That is just wrong. Peace.

Reference:

Office for Coordination Human Rights (OCHR) Commission – ‘Report of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan’ (23.02.2018)

South Sudan Civil Society Forum surprised by Minister’s Comment on Economy boom (25.02.2018)

South Sudan: “Re- Suspected Case of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Against Some Members of the Ghana FPU Contigent with UNMISS – South Sudan” (25.02.2018)

The NRM Celebration in Kiboga only affirm one thing: They are all loyal minions to Museveni and his agenda!

If you believed the Age Limit fight and votes of 2017 was for the betterment of the Republic. Sorry brother, your so wrong, the celebration in Kigoba today is made for the 317 Members of Parliament, who voted for the Raphael Magyezi Bill. They are celebrating the life president of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. This happens the same week the ruling party sacked dozens of staff. They can afford a grand party and start a second referendum for the President. They are now planning to change the constitution again, this time to add the Presidential Terms from 5 years to 7 years.

Therefore, the party is in the constituency of the Deputy Cheif Whip Ruth Nankabirwa, who led the removal of the article 102(b). Now she will led the change of the article 105(1). The National Resistance Movement, should just be honest, that all of them just serve one purpose. Working for the master and the President by all means. Not for democracy or for principals. Because Museveni has broken all his promises and pledges. This party proves that the NRM are broke this week, but can afford to slaughter 25 cows and pay buses for the MPs there.

They are now wishing Museveni Non-Stop and preparing for a new referendum, that fits the paradigm of the President again. Instead of age of the President, it is now the length of his term. They cannot put this on the age or the decisions, they are now countering it because they gave themselves longer terms. The 317 Members of Parliament has now a term lasting 7 years, instead of 5 years. Which should be long enough to be able to make a difference. However, they need longer time to be corrupted and work under Museveni.

So this party, is “Align and Arrive” campaign are yet another way of extending Museveni, just like they did themselves. It follows protocol that they work for him and not for the Republic. You know there is local problems in Kiboga Sub County NRM Chairman Stephen Matovu has asked for the president to buy a motorcycle for him. While the LC 3 Chairman of Kiboga Hajji Sulaiman Ssekiwunga has asked for a new house and car, after that has been torched. Therefore, the NRM and the State House maybe has to cover for their poltical affiliations has cost in the region.

Hope the bribes, the congratulations and the praise of themselves, to make sure Museveni can be for life. President Museveni are bashing and letting them praise it, because this is all making it seem like the party celebrates itself and accomplishment. Instead, it makes them look like they are catering even more to him. Because the NRM wouldn’t be there and have this event if it wasn’t for Museveni. The whole thing is that they won a “victory” for Museveni and used all means to do so.

The Victory Bash, is really just showing how the minions are working all for Museveni and his agenda. Not for making the republic better or give it better governance. That comes second or third. What comes first is Museveni and his needs. To say otherwise, is the second reason for this bash. It is to make sure he get 4 more years, not the change they did in 2017 to the Constitution. So they plan to alter it again, so he can become president for even longer. There no other reason for the event.

So just as these NRM MPs was getting bribes for their votes, get praise for the changes, they are now expected to move further the agenda for Museveni. To extend it even more, they are aligned to show allegiance and ready to arrive another step further for the life presidency. Because that is the goal, that the president will take his last breath as President. They want the same results as with Mugabe, that he clocked out, when he was over 90 years old. Because that is the values of the NRM, which want to be like ZANU-PF.

So do yourself a favor, stop talking about democracy and building a better Uganda. Your only serving Museveni and his agenda. Which is himself and no-one else. They are just useful props for his purpose. They are needed votes and cronies, which he can pay when needed be. The Constitution has to be altered for his narrative and not for the betterment of the republic. Therefore, the ones celebrating today, is complicit in the theft, in the taking and the total control in favor of Museveni. They are all tools who are getting used by him. So he can rule with impunity and with disgrace. Peace.

South Sudan: Equatorian Leaders in the Diaspora applauds the stand of the Oppostion Groups at the recent Peace Talks in Addis Ababa (22.02.2018)

Mzee complains today about waste, however he haven’t rehabilitated sugar industry or revamped pharmaceutical industry either!

“In this regard, we need to learn and apply lessons from emerging economies such as India, whose total healthcare industry revenue is expected to increase from US$ 110 billion in 2016 to US$ 372 billion in 2022 in response to deliberate investments in telemedicine, manufacturing of medicines and health technologies, medical tourism, health workforce training and risk pooling/health insurance, among others. In order to achieve this, we need to plan in a harmonized way. In Uganda, for instance, we, indeed, have a nascent pharmaceutical industry producing Aids/HIV, Malaria, Hepatitis-B, pharmaceuticals, etc. drugs. These are, however, still using imported pharmaceutical grade starch and imported pharmaceutical grade sugar. The pharmaceutical grade starch and sugar are crucial for making tablets and syrups for children’s medicines. Yet, the starch is from maize and cassava and the pharmaceutical grade sugar is from sugar. I am told the drugs would be 20% cheaper. Moreover, apart from helping in the pharmaceutical industry, more refined sugar is also needed in the soft drinks industry. Uganda is squandering US$34 million per year importing refined sugar for the soft drinks, about US$ 20 million for importing the pharmaceutical grade starches not including the other raw materials, US$ 77million for taking patients to India etc. Africa is incredibly rich but wasteful” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE JOINT EAC HEADS OF STATE RETREAT ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND HEALTH FINANCING AND DEVELOPMENT, 22.02.2018).

Seems like the 1980s World Bank loans to restart Kakira Sugar Works hasn’t done enough, since the Ugandan state did right after the National Resistance Army takeover of the state. They went into an arrangement with the World Bank getting loans for the company, to restart. That deal was done 8th March 1988. As the documents said back in 198:

“Uganda currently imports US$15-20 million worth of sugar annually, which ranks second only to petroleum imports. Import substitution through restoration of domestic production capacity is therefore a high priority and eminently justified given the considerable comparative advantage Uganda enjoys as a result of its landlocked situation. Conditions for sugar production at Kakira are highly favorable. Cane growing benefits from excellent soils, good rainfall distribution (requiring only limited sunplementary irrigation) and relatively low levels of inputs of fertilizers and pesticides. The project brings back to the Kakira complex the original owners who have a demonstrated ability to manage sugar operations at Kakira and elsewhere” (SUGAR REHABILITATION PROJECT, 08.03.1988).

Therefore, what the President said today, the Sugar Rehabilitation Project, which was done to stop the heavy imports of sugar and for consumption, has clearly not worked as projected. Since his own state is squandering their resources and not even following the loans to make the project work. That is my take on it. The president of 32 years has clearly mismanaged this and not finished his job. Since he hasn’t been able to rehabilitate the industry.

When it comes to pharmaceutical industry there massive challenges, not just the sugar starch for medicine coverage of the pills. Nevertheless, the whole arrangement, since the technology to operate these machines are imported, as well is the parts. Not only the sugar starch, but also the ingredients are imported too, than you have few companies who has automated manufactures, which makes hard to make medicine on a larger scale. It is also high operation cost, because of use of back-up generators because of blackouts and shortfall of electricity. Because of this, it is expensive to have cold storage of the medicine and have a storage for the final products.

So the Idea from Museveni that it is simple, it is the whole system around it, that makes it more profitable to import ready made medicine, than actually produce it. Even if the added value of production would be there, but with the circumstances put by United Nations Industrial Development Organization, seemingly it is from 2009. However, the state of affairs hasn’t changed that much.

We can really estimate, that the adjustment and the needed organization to pull forward both industries during the years of NRM hasn’t been totally fruitful. If so, why would he complain about the imports of sugar and medicine, when he hasn’t been able to make it function with his 32 years of reign? Someone who has 3 decades, should have the ability and time to find the information, finalize plans and execute as seen fit. That is if he cared about the industries in question and their possible engines for growth and riches of Africa. Nevertheless, he hasn’t cared and haven’t used the time wisely. He has used the time bitching and not acting. That is just the way things is and it isn’t becoming better either.

He could have made sure that the pharmaceutical industry had energy, had the sufficient organization behind it to make the medicine, not only import and assemble certain medicine, he could have made sure the sugar industry was profitable and had the equipment to make the refined sugar used in the pharmaceutical industry. However, both is a lost cause, because it takes money and time. Both, is something he doesn’t have, since the narrative isn’t making him wealthy.

Alas, he we are at the status quo, with a President running for life and complaining about waste. When he has wasted 32 years and not made effort to change it. It is all talk and no fire. Peace.

South Sudan Civil Society Forum: High-Level Revitalization Forum could have achieved more than it did (20.02.2018)

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees steps up support for Uganda’s refugee programme (20.02.2018)

The data verification exercise is scheduled to be completed by September 2018 – including introduction of biometric checks at food distribution sites.

GENEVA, Switzerland, February 20, 2018/APO Group/ —

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, announced today new measures to support the government of Uganda’s refugee programme, including through a major biometric data verification exercise.
“We are taking extremely seriously recent developments in Uganda. The refugee programme in this country is of critical importance, given the scale of the emergency and the role model played by Uganda in welcoming and receiving so many people seeking international protection,” said UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, George Okoth-Obbo.

“On 1 March, in support of the Ugandan government, we together with our partners are launching a massive biometric verification exercise of all refugees in Uganda. This nation-wide re-enrolment and verification process will be key to help the government in fixing discrepancies in refugee data,” added Okoth-Obbo.

UNHCR has already deployed staff, with partner emergency teams, to start the exercise. In total, more than 400 staff will register refugees.

The data verification exercise is scheduled to be completed by September 2018 – including introduction of biometric checks at food distribution sites. The tried and tested UNHCR biometric system has already been used in 48 countries across the world and helped register some 4.4 million refugees.

In parallel, UNHCR’s independent Inspector General’s Office is rigorously pursuing its own oversight and due diligence measures, including investigations of several serious allegations received in 2017 on fuel embezzlement, one allegation of sexual exploitation and abuse, irregular tendering of water trucking, and fraud in procurement and food distribution.

Uganda initiated a probe in January after reports received by UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP) alleged corruption and grave misconduct by government officials involved in refugee assistance.

“Let me be crystal clear: the allegations reported so far are not focused on UNHCR. Our investigations aim at supporting the recently launched probe by the Ugandan prime minister to fight corruption and grave misconduct by its officials,” said UNHCR’s Okoth-Obbo.

“At UNHCR, we have zero tolerance for misconduct, abuse and exploitation. Every possible report or allegation is thoroughly assessed,” stressed Okoth-Obbo.

Allegations concerning other UN agencies or implementing partners have been referred to the respective organizations for internal investigation, and those concerning government staff or entities have been referred to authorities in Uganda. UNHCR is closely monitoring the outcomes of these investigations and is closely cooperating with the Ugandan authorities and other partners.

UNHCR is also strengthening its monitoring and oversight to prevent a reoccurrence of the events, including the deployment of more senior staff to help put in place additional safeguards.

These new measures are being implemented as the current Representative is reaching the end of his term and a more senior replacement is about to arrive.

“Throughout his time in Uganda, Mr Bornwell Kantande has demonstrated deep commitment, steering the UNHCR operation in a particularly challenging environment characterized by multiple refugee influxes, with Uganda now hosting the largest number of refugees of any country in Africa. After almost three years as Representative, he will shortly move to a new assignment and in the meantime continues to enjoy my full support and trust,” said UN High Commissionner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.

Uganda provides protection to well over one million refugees, keeping an open-door policy for people fleeing conflict and persecution.

“We need a strong and collective response which aims at strengthening the refugee programmes in Uganda, while drawing lessons from the current situation,” concluded UNHCR’s Okoth-Obbo.