HIGHLIGHTS
Fighting in Juba left hundreds of people dead or injured and tens of thousands displaced.
Sharp increase in suspected cholera cases.
The number of South Sudanese people seeking shelter and safety in Uganda has risen significantly.
One aid worker killed during fighting in Buaw, Koch County.
Partners face challenges to meet growing needs in and around Wau.
Thousands displaced by fighting in Juba
Fighting in Juba, South Sudan’s capital, from 7 to 11 July left hundreds of people dead or injured and tens of thousands displaced.
Estimates by humanitarian partners indicate that more than 36,000 people were displaced at the height of the fighting and sought shelter in various locations throughout Juba, including the UNMISS base in Tongping, UN House in Jebel, WFP compound, ADRA compound, and churches and schools across the city. Most of the displaced were women and children.
While many of the displaced have since left the collective sites, as of 20 July, humanitarians estimated that more than 15,000 people remained displaced, including more than 10,800 in the UNMISS sites and more than 4,200 outside. This comes in addition to the more than 28,000 people sheltering in the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites within the country’s capital prior to the recent outbreak of fighting.
During the fighting, there were reports of targeted and indiscriminate attacks affecting civilians, and there are ongoing reports of sexual and gender-based violence against women IDPs. “It is tragic that civilians, including those forced to flee their homes during this latest round of fighting, continue to suffer immensely at a time when there were high hopes of a return to stability in South Sudan,” said Mr. Eugene Owusu, Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan.
Humanitarian organizations have responded in locations with the highest needs, including distributing clean water, high energy biscuits, nutritional supplements, sanitary items and vital household items, including blankets and mosquito nets; re-supplying vital medicines and undertaking health consultations; supporting family tracing and reunification; and undertaking protection monitoring to identify and support the most vulnerable.
However, during and after the clashes, humanitarian facilities, compounds and warehouses - including a maternity ward in a Protection of Civilians site - were hit by shelling and gunfire, attacked or looted, and humanitarian staff came under attack. A national staff member of Internews, John Gatluak Manguet Nhial, was killed.
“We are very concerned that there is continuing violence, sexual violence against women and girls, and attacks against United Nations humanitarian facilities, and looting of humanitarian assistance which should be used for many hundreds of thousands of people. The looting by SPLA of WFP warehouses - stealing all the food, which was meant for at least 220,000 people - this is totally unacceptable. We ask for accountability and those perpetrators should be held accountable,” said UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, on 21 July.
In addition to the WFP warehouse, an FAO warehouse was ransacked and stocks of seeds and tools earmarked to help food insecure people across the country save their livelihoods, were looted.
Read more: - HC statement: http://bit.ly/29PIDjq; - WFP press release: http://bit.ly/2azSQO0; - FAO press release: http://bit.ly/29LcZPz; - Internews in Memoriam page: http://bit.ly/29NWJ3T