South Sudan continues to face persistent challenges to peace and stability, Security Council told
Nov 18, 2016, at 02:17 pm
New York, Nov 18 (Just Earth News): Briefing the United Nations Security Council for the last time, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan called on the 15-member body to continue to accord priority to the country and to consider the future of its people in taking any decisions.
South Sudan will face escalating food crisis in 2017, UN agriculture agency warns
Nov 08, 2016, at 02:11 pm
New York, Nov 8 (Just Earth News): As the conflict in South Sudan grinds on, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Monday that 31 per cent of the country’s population, or 3.7 million people, are facing a severe food security risk, despite the end of the lean food season and start of harvests – a major increase from the one million who were in a similar situation at this time last year.
Some 3,500 people fleeing South Sudan each day due to ongoing conflict – UN refugee agenc
Nov 05, 2016, at 01:31 pm
New York, Nov 5 (Just Earth News): The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has led to immense suffering and displacement, with an average of 3,500 people fleeing the country each day to neighbouring countries, prompting the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), national authorities, and other humanitarian actors to race to create safe and humane conditions for arrivals – 90 per cent of whom are women and children.
South Sudan: UN peacekeeping chief sets up task force after probe into mission’s performance
Nov 04, 2016, at 01:48 pm
New York, Nov 4 (Just Earth News): After an independent inquiry found that the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) failed to protect civilians as deadly violence broke out in and around its premises in the capital, Juba, in July, the top UN peacekeeping official on Thursday announced that he has established a task force to carry out the probe’s recommendations, which include ensuring greater accountability of the mission’s leadership.
South Sudan: Ban to put in place measures to improve UN Mission’s ability to protect civilians
Nov 02, 2016, at 04:45 am
New York, Nov 1 (Just Earth News): Alarmed by the “serious shortcomings†uncovered by an independent investigation into the response of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) after deadly violence erupted in and around its premises in Juba this past July, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will introduce a raft of measures for the Mission to better protect civilians – including through greater accountability of the mission's civilian and uniformed leadership, Ban’s spokesperson said on Tuesday.
South Sudan: UN human rights chief warns of ‘alarming rise’ in ethnic hate speech
Oct 27, 2016, at 04:41 am
New York, Oct 26 (Just Earth News): An alarming rise in hate speech and incitement to violence against certain ethnic groups in South Sudan has prompted the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, to issue a warning that if the community and political leaders at the highest levels do not rein it in, mass atrocities in the country could erupt.
South Sudan: 100,000 people trapped in Yei, UN refugee agency warns
Oct 01, 2016, at 04:27 am
New York, Sept 30 (Just Earth News): Urgent humanitarian assistance is needed for some 100,000 people trapped in the South Sudanese town of Yei, where the security situation deteriorated rapidly after renewed conflict broke out in Juba, the capital, in early July, the United Nations refugee agency warned today.
Number of South Sudan refugees passes one million – UN
Sep 17, 2016, at 04:03 am
New York, Sept 16 (Just Earth News): As instability and violence persist in the world’s newest country, the number of South Sudanese seeking safety and shelter in neighbouring countries has crossed the one million mark, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday.
South Sudan: UN mission concerned at reports of intimidation of civil society members
Sep 09, 2016, at 04:07 am
New York, Sept 8 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern at reports of harassment and intimidation against some civil society members who met with a United Nations Security Council delegation during the latter's most recent visit to the country, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has stressed that any attempt to suppress fundamental human rights must be condemned in no uncertain terms.
Sep 04, 2016, at 01:44 pm
New York, Sept 4 (Just Earth News): On the second day of its visit to South Sudan, a delegation from the United Nations Security Council on Saturday met with displaced people living in camps, known as “protection of civilians†sites, seeing first-hand “the human consequences of the failure of political leaders to bring peace back to their country.â€
South Sudan: Hundreds of children recruited into armed groups, reports UNICEF
Aug 20, 2016, at 04:03 am
New York, Aug 19 (Just Earth News): Reporting that 650 children have been recruited into armed groups in South Sudan since January, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNCEF) called on Friday for an immediate end to recruitment and an unconditional release of all children by armed actors.
Security Council approves regional protection force for UN mission in South Sudan
Aug 13, 2016, at 12:27 pm
New York, Aug 13 (Just Earth News): The Security Council on Friday authorized a 4,000-strong regional protection force within the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), “responsible for providing a secure environment in and around Juba,†the capital, which in early July was the scene of the latest eruption of deadly violence in the young country, exacerbating an already desperate humanitarian situation.
South Sudan: Scale of refugee exodus straining capacity in neighbouring countries, warns UN
Aug 13, 2016, at 04:34 am
New York, Aug 12 (Just Earth News): The countries hosting refugees from their crisis-gripped neighbour, South Sudan, are straining under the sheer weight of the ongoing exodus as desperate people continue to arrive at their borders daily, joining hundreds of thousands of others that fled for safety before them, the United Nations has warned.
South Sudan crisis deepens as once-stable areas fall into violence – UN relief chief
Aug 11, 2016, at 12:42 pm
New York, Aug 11 (Just Earth News): Recently returned from a three-day visit to South Sudan, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien on Wednesday painted a grave picture of the enormous humanitarian crisis facing the world’s newest country and the devastating impact of the ongoing violence on its people.
Perpetrators of sexual violence in South Sudan 'will be held accountable' – UN envoy
Aug 09, 2016, at 01:25 pm
New York, Aug 9 (Just Earth News): Vowing to “fight†to the end to see that all perpetrators of rape and violence against women and girls in crisis-torn South Sudan are held to account, the United Nations envoy on sexual violence in conflict on Monday said it is extremely important for the Government to take all necessary action to put an end to such crimes.
UN chief welcomes South Sudan's acceptance of African-led regional protection force
Aug 08, 2016, at 01:17 pm
New York, Aug 8 (Just Earth News): Welcoming the Government of South Sudan's acceptance of a regional protection force to help quell the ongoing violence in the country, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday called on all South Sudanese parties to uphold their responsibility to protect civilians and to demonstrate their commitment to a peace agreement, “the only viable path†out of the crisis.
South Sudan's government forces committed widespread violations in July fighting – UN
Aug 05, 2016, at 04:06 am
New York, Aug 4 (Just Earth News): Preliminary United Nations investigations into the recent fighting in South Sudan reveal Government security forces carried out killings and rapes, and looted and destroyed properties, the UN human rights chief said on Thursday, calling on the Security Council to take stronger action.
In South Sudan, UN humanitarian chief calls on all parties to work together for peace
Aug 03, 2016, at 12:41 pm
New York, Aug 3 (Just Earth News): United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien on Tuesday called on all actors in South Sudan, including the international community supporting the country, to work together for a peace that will enable the nation and its people to realize their hopes for a better future.
South Sudan: UN Mission condemns ‘unspeakable acts’ of abuse, sexual violence
Aug 02, 2016, at 01:18 pm
New York, Aug 2 (Just Earth News): The United Nations in South Sudan on Monday condemned unequivocally reports of widespread sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, of women and young girls, by soldiers and unidentified armed men, stressing that such acts constitute grave violations of international human rights law and may be regarded as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
South Sudan: Security Council approves two-week extension of UN Mission
Jul 30, 2016, at 03:38 pm
New York, July 30 (Just Earth News):The Security Council on Fridayextended for two weeks the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), allowing time for its membership to consider options on adapting the operation’s mandate amid renewed violence in the world’s youngest country.
UN rushes to ramp up support for South Sudan's battle against cholera outbreak
Jul 28, 2016, at 04:36 am
New York, July 27 (Just Earth News): The United Nations and its partners are rushing to ramp up support for South Sudan's fight to contain a cholera outbreak through measures, including an oral vaccination campaign to reach over 14,000 people and the creation of treatment and rehydration centres.
Ban welcomes new agreement with Inter Parliamentary Union; reiterates concern at South Sudan crisis
Jul 22, 2016, at 01:45 pm
New York, July 22 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday signed a new partnership agreement with the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) that will further strengthen the collaboration between the two organizations in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
South Sudan: UN human rights expert calls for the release of journalist Alfred Taban
Jul 22, 2016, at 03:01 am
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): A United Nations human rights expert on Thursday urged the Government of South Sudan to immediately release Alfred Taban, a prominent journalist and chief editor of the daily English newspaper, Juba Monitor.
South Sudan: Demonstrators protest outside UN compound without incidents
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:49 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): A thousand people on Wednesday demonstrated in front of a United Nations compound in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, the UN Mission in the country announced, and dispersed without incidents after handing over a petition.
UN staff in South Sudan facing harassment, obstructions – UN Mission reports
Jul 20, 2016, at 01:25 pm
New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): The situation around South Sudan remains tense, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country on Tuesday said, calling on all parties to uphold their responsibilities to protect civilians – including UN staff.
Thousands flee to Uganda to escape renewed violence in South Sudan – UN refugee agency
Jul 20, 2016, at 01:18 pm
New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): More than 5,000 people – primarily women and children under the age of 18 years – have fled from South Sudan to neighbouring Uganda since the latest violence in the country erupted on 7 July, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
In Rwanda, Ban calls for concerted regional and international action in South Sudan
Jul 17, 2016, at 02:07 pm
New York, July 17 (Just Earth News): On the margins of the 27th African Union (AU) Summit taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday addressed a regional body and met with several African leaders, stressing the need for concerted action to revive the implementation of the peace agreement in South Sudan.
South Sudan: UN agency urges stability ahead of planting season to thwart food insecurity
Jul 17, 2016, at 01:52 pm
New York, July 17 (Just Earth News): Millions of people facing hunger in South Sudan will be driven to the brink of catastrophe if renewed flashes of violence derail the fragile peace process, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Saturday, warning that the human costs of recent fighting in Juba will be compounded by deepening hunger across the entire country if peace does not hold.
South Sudan: UNICEF delivers life-saving aid to civilians displaced by fighting in Juba
Jul 15, 2016, at 03:55 am
New York, July 14 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and partners are providing urgent life-saving assistance to thousands of people displaced by last weekend's heavy fighting in Juba, South Sudan, which reportedly killed some 272 people, including 33 civilians, and displaced at least 36,000 civilians.
South Sudan: Amid fears of renewed fighting, UN peacekeeping chief calls for Security Council action
Jul 14, 2016, at 12:48 pm
New York, July 14 (Just Earth News):Given the unstable security situation in South Sudan following clashes between Government and opposition forces which left some 272 people, including 33 civilians, dead, the United Nations peacekeeping chief on Wednesday proposed that the UN Mission there be extended until the end of August to allow a rapid assessment on the need for a stronger mandate.