The UN says the fighting in South Sudan has displaced at least 3.2 million people [Archives/AP]
The United Nations has issued another dire warning about the humanitarian situation in South Sudan saying that about one million children have fled the fighting between government and rebel forces.
Of the more than 1.8 million refugees who have fled the civil war and reached Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan, one million have been children, both UNICEF and the refugee agency UNHCR have confirmed.
Another 1.1 million children are listed as internally displaced persons, the UN added.
“Refugee families fleeing to neighboring countries in search of shelter and safety are facing a double catastrophe this rainy season, with children most at risk from the health and protection risks associated with inadequate shelter,” the UN agencies said in a joint statement.
South Sudan is now considered one of the worst refugee crises in the world.
The security situation in South Sudan, which celebrated its fifth independence anniversary on July 9, began to deteriorate on December 15, 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused Vice-President Riek Macharof of masterminding a coup attempt. Some reports said that members of the Presidential Guard loyal to Machar engaged in a gun battle with security forces supporting Kiir.
Hostilities erupted when other supporters of the two men, from rival tribes, clashed in the capital Juba.
Since December 2013, more than 3.2 million people have been displaced, including about 1.8 million who fled to neighboring countries. More than 700,000 fled to Uganda alone. The UN also says that more than 1,000 children have been killed since then.
Exacerbating the situation is the UN’s urgent appeal to provide food to millions of people now facing starvation, famine and food insecurity in South Sudan due to the ongoing civil war and social strife.
Tthe United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has been warning since February that certain parts of South Sudan are now dealing with famine while another one million people are classified as on the brink.
At least 100,000 people are currently starving, the UN organization said, and up to six million are in need of humanitarian aid.
“Much greater support is needed to ensure that every refugee family has somewhere safe to live, as well as urgent humanitarian assistance including food, water, protection, education and medical care,” both UNICEF and UNHCR said.
The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies
Source