What Others Say About South Sudan's Crisis

[Elisabeth Janaina]

What Others Say About South Sudan's Crisis
"Guterres told the Security Council that Kiir's intention to hold a
national dialogue "is not convincing" in the absence of consultation
with opponents, the "systematic curtailment of basic political
freedoms, and restrictions on humanitarian access."
25 March 2017
What Others Say About South Sudan's Crisis
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. [AFP/Khaled Desouki]

(Africa Center For Strategic Studies

Media Review for March 24, 2017

UN Chief Accuses South Sudan's Government of Ignoring Famine
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accused South Sudan's
government on Thursday of refusing to express "any meaningful concern"
about the plight of 100,000 people suffering from famine, 7.5 million
in need of humanitarian aid and thousands more fleeing fighting. The
U.N. chief delivered a sharp rebuke to the country's president, Salva
Kiir, saying that most often the international community hears denials
- "a refusal by the leadership to even acknowledge the crisis or to
fulfil its responsibilities to end it." Guterres told the Security
Council that Kiir's intention to hold a national dialogue "is not
convincing" in the absence of consultation with opponents, the
"systematic curtailment of basic political freedoms, and restrictions
on humanitarian access." South Sudan's deputy ambassador Joseph Moum
Malok said the government "takes issue with the accusation" that it is
responsible for the famine in two counties and said other parts of the
country are affected by drought. He said the government "will spare no
efforts to help address the situation and calls upon the international
community to help address this urgent matter." AP


Uganda at 'Breaking Point' as South Sudan Refugees Pour In
Uganda is at a "breaking point" as almost 3,000 South Sudanese
refugees pour into the country every day, the United Nations refugee
chief and Uganda's government said Thursday, calling for international
help to support over 800,000 people now sheltering there. The U.N. has
called it the world's fastest-growing refugee crisis. More than
570,000 refugees have arrived from South Sudan since July - and the
number could pass one million by the middle of this year, the joint
statement by U.N. refugee chief Filippo Grandi and Uganda's government
said. "We are at breaking point. Uganda cannot handle Africa's largest
refugee crisis alone," Grandi said. "The lack of international
attention to the suffering of the South Sudanese people is failing
some of the most vulnerable people in the world when they most
desperately need our help." AP

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