SOUTH SUDAN: THE UNSEEN EMERGENCY ? Most people have heard about the conflicts in Iraq and Syria, or the Ebola crisis in West Africa. They are on the news almost every day. Fewer people will have heard much about the crisis in South Sudan, the world’s newest country. (Possibly check with a show of hands) This presentation introduces the ‘unseen emergency’ in South Sudan and I hope it will get you thinking about the best solutions to this and other similar emergencies. Photo credit: Kieran Doherty/Oxfam Crisis in the world’s newest country

Type date here Sudan Central African Ethiopia Republic Uganda Democratic Republic of the Congo Kenya South Sudan is the world newest country. It has had a difficult birth. Following decades of conflict, South Sudan voted for independence from Sudan in January 2011. South Sudan became an independent state on 9 July 2011, following a referendum in which 98.83% of the population voted for independence. However the new country remained fragile and poor, and the tensions with neighbouring Sudan remained. In December 2013, the crisis deepened. South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir accused his former Vice President Riek Machar of planning a rebellion. This led to renewed fighting which still was continuing in November 2014 despite an ongoing peace process aiming to resolve the crisis. Therefore the country faces the challenges of long term development and reducing poverty at the same time as ending a serious conflict and creating peace. Similar challenges exist in other countries with conflicts; for example Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Image reference: Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:South_Sudan_in_Africa_(claimed)_(-mini_map_-rivers).svg Type date here

Early morning in Mingkaman IDP camp One of the first impacts of violence is that people are forced to leave their homes and look for safety. In many places this stops development – such as improving farming, health and education – in its tracks. A person who is forced to move somewhere else inside their country is known in international law as an Internally Displaced Person (IDP). A person who is given safety in another country is known as a refugee. Since December 2013, 1 in every 7 people in South Sudan has been forced to leave their home. Up to November 2014, 1.44 million people had moved somewhere else inside South Sudan for greater safety, with many seeking protection in cramped United Nations bases. The smaller number of 479,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries as refugees. With South Sudan, as with most other refugee emergencies, the countries which have accepted the largest numbers of refugees are other poor countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. Few South Sudanese refugees have arrived in rich countries. The refugees and IDPs affected by the conflict face many challenges. They include a lack of security, food, clean water, sanitation and accommodation. Many have settled in temporary camps next to United Nations bases where UN troops offer some protection. The photograph shows camp residents airing their bedding after a night’s sleep at Mingkaman IDP camp. Photo credit: Mackenzie Knowles Coursin/Oxfam Early morning in Mingkaman IDP camp 

Malakal IDP Camp during the rainy season Heavy rain during the rainy season between May and October 2014 has made conditions in the camps even more challenging. The rain floods tents and leads to the spread of diseases, such as malaria and cholera. Photo credit: Simon Rawles/Oxfam Malakal IDP Camp during the rainy season

Women gathering wood for fuel Many refugees and IDP’s have witnessed atrocities and are frequently psychologically traumatised. Camps have been attacked and UN soldiers have not always been able to provide security. Following an attack at Bor IDP camp residents were too frightened to go outside and collect the firewood they need to cook. A local peace agreement agreed that the women could go out for one hour to gather firewood. The photograph shows women outside the camp collecting wood. Photo credit: Kieran Doherty/Oxfam Women gathering wood for fuel

Oxfam stove distribution Oxfam water tank So what has been done, and what can be done to improve the situation in South Sudan? The country was poor to begin with. Now it faces the additional challenges brought by conflict and the forced movement of IDPs and refugees. Farming and trade have been disrupted and as a result South Sudan faces severe food shortages. Many commentators have warned of a famine in 2015 if more is not done to help now. First of all, humanitarian aid has provided food, cooking facilities, water, clean toilets and health services for people in the IDP camps. These are the usual things the international community does when there’s a humanitarian emergency somewhere in the world. This aid helps to save a great many lives. However is humanitarian aid enough? Photo credit one: Mackenzie Knowles Coursin/Oxfam Photo credit two: Kieran Doherty/Oxfam Photo credit three: Kieran Doherty/Oxfam Photo credit four: Kieran Doherty/Oxfam People receiving medical care Latrines being built

Beekeepers check on their hives in Momoi, South Sudan So there is an urgent need to increase food production and help South Sudan to develop at the same time as providing humanitarian aid and security. This photograph shows a beekeeper learning to look after bee hives. Honey could be an important source of income for farmers. Farmers in South Sudan have not had much support in the past and require help to grow more food, feed people and help the country to develop in the long term. This is especially urgent as South Sudan faces serious food shortages. This raises an important question. Often the international community has provided help for emergencies (for example: food for IDPs) before later going on to provide help for long term development (for example: better farming). However many experts now suggest that help for emergencies and help for development should happen together at the same time. They suggest, for example, that it’s not possible to build peace without development happening first. Photo credit: Adriane Ohanesian/Oxfam Beekeepers check on their hives in Momoi, South Sudan

Speaking in a community discussion One way of answering this question is to listen to the people of South Sudan. In an emergency we sometimes see the people affected by violence and insecurity as ‘victims’ who need our help instead of individuals with their own opinions and hopes for the future. International attention also often focuses on the people responsible for violence rather than the great many people who try to lead peaceful lives and reduce conflict. South Sudan’s people have their own opinions and want better lives for themselves and their families. For many this will involve both better security and safety but also development so they can live better lives. Therefore Oxfam argues that allowing ordinary people to voice their opinions about South Sudan’s future and how international aid should be spent is an important element of building the country’s future. In this photo people are sharing their opinions at a community meeting. Photo credit: Mackenzie Knowles Coursin/Oxfam Speaking in a community discussion

Peter, a Nuer saved by his friend Raphael, a Dinka. “Whatever is happening is due to ignorance. The biggest challenge is that people see the differences between them as a negative thing. Diversity is a positive thing.” Peter, a Nuer saved by his friend Raphael, a Dinka. There are many messages of hope. The Dinka and the Nuer are South Sudan’s two main ethnic groups. Many people believe the current conflict is a conflict between these two groups. However there are many examples of solidarity and support between members of these groups. It is not inevitable that people fight because of their ethnicity or their language. For example Raphael, a Dinka, hid his Nuer neighbour Peter in his house when people came to kill Peter. Raphael therefore saved Peter’s life. Many Nuer citizens also saved their fellow Dinka. Photo credit: Mackenzie Knowles Coursin/Oxfam

WHAT CAN YOU DO ? Learn more Raise awareness Influence your MP So what can you do to make more people aware of South Sudan’s ‘unseen emergency’ Please learn more, and be prepared to think critically because it’s a complicated story. Next help to raise awareness and get more people thinking about what’s happening in the world’s newest country. You might decide to fundraise for Oxfam’s work in South Sudan. Finally, influence your MP. With all the other things happening in the world an emergency like South Sudan can slip the attention of decision makers. The international community has worked hard to support South Sudan in the past, but showing your MP that you care and appreciate Britain’s support will help to make a difference in the future. Thank you Photo credit: Kieran Doherty/Oxfam Learn more Raise awareness Influence your MP