UK minister visits S. Sudan, urges end to bloodshed

[Elisabeth Janaina]

UK minister visits S. Sudan, urges end to bloodshed

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September 11, 2017 (JUBA) – The United Kingdom (UK) Minister for
Africa, Rory Stewart has called for an end to the bloodshed in South
Sudan, where tens of thousands have died since December 2013.

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UK minister for Africa, Rory Stewart (Daily mail)

Stewart made this remarks during last week’s visit to the South
Sudanese capital, Juba and the Upper Nile state capital, Malakal.

Since the beginning of the South Sudanese conflict, UK has been
providing lifesaving support to people affected by the conflict.

The conflict in South Sudan, aid agencies say, has forced nearly 4
million people, or a third of the population, to flee their homes.

It also estimated that more than half of the population in South Sudan
lack enough food to feed themselves and their families.

The UK official, while in South Sudan, appealed to the government to
stop the conflict that has raged on for nearly four years now.

“The impact the conflict has had on the lives of so many vulnerable
people here is shocking. I am proud to see the UK at the forefront of
the international response, saving and protecting lives in South
Sudan,” said Stewart in a statement.

He added, “It is vital that we now work with the international
community and all armed parties to commit to a peace process, and to
tackling the underlying causes of conflict to break this vicious cycle
of violence so that no more innocent lives are lost.”

While in Juba, Stewart met First Vice President, Taban Deng during
which he reportedly conveyed the UK’s deep concern at the ongoing
violence and grave humanitarian situation in South Sudan and urged the
Juba government to take the lead to bring an immediate end to violent
conflict across the war-torn nation.

He also emphasized the importance of safe humanitarian access to the
conflict-affected areas and pressed the government to take concrete
steps to involve all groups in the peace process.

During his Upper Nile state visit, the senior UK official reiterated
Britain’s commitment to the success of the UN Mission to South Sudan
(UNMISS), adding that the UK, with the largest deployment to the UN
peacekeeping mission, is helping UNMISS fulfil its mandate of
protecting civilians, allowing humanitarian access, investigating
human rights abuses and supporting the peace deal.

The UK official also held discussions with UN Special Representative
of Secretary General, David Shearer, to discuss the security and
political situation in South Sudan, in addition to meeting members
South Sudan Council of Churches to hear their peace action plan.

The UK minister encouraged the Council of Churches to continue with
their on-going work at community level and reiterated the UK’s
commitment to supporting South Sudan in urgently finding a resolution
to this terrible conflict before more lives are destroyed.

This year, the UK will reportedly provide £100 million on a package of
lifesaving support that includes reaching over 500,000 people with
food assistance, providing safe drinking water for over 300,000 people
and emergency health services for over 100,000 people.

(ST)