Statement by the UNMISS Officer in Charge, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ms. Anita Kiki Gbeho to Noon Briefing

NEW YORK/JUBA - Thank you for the opportunity to brief on the escalating crisis in South Sudan.

The most pressing of the multiple and growing challenges is the rapidly expanding conflict in Jonglei State, which has become a flashpoint for military confrontations between the main parties to the peace agreement.

While the fighting is force on force at the moment, civilians are caught in the crossfire, losing their lives and their homes, with over 200,000 people reportedly displaced by the Jonglei conflict this month alone.

These vulnerable communities are further impacted by a sharp surge in cholera, with 125 cases reported in Jonglei this month. We’ve had 479 cases reported nationwide and this comes after we have just gotten out of a bad outbreak of cholera, the worst that South Sudan has seen, with over 97,000 cases overall. Treatment centers are overwhelmed and critically short of supplies. An emergency response in Jonglei is currently now underway.

In this regard, we appreciate the Government’s assistance in enabling humanitarian access to Akobo, in Jonglei. However, more broadly, humanitarian efforts continue to be severely impeded by access constraints.

Flight, road and river restrictions are preventing medical evacuations and disrupting the delivery of life-saving supplies. Humanitarian facilities are being looted and damaged, including at least seven in Jonglei. Assets are being confiscated, and aid workers intimidated. These actions are having an intolerable impact on people in desperate need.

Our peacekeeping mission, UNMISS, is facing similar challenges, impacting protection of civilians, conflict-prevention, and peacebuilding.

All the conditions for a human catastrophe are present.

We deeply appreciate the release of $10 million dollars from the Central Emergency Relief Fund to support those impacted by the Jonglei conflict, and the generosity of donors more generally, and more support is needed.

Jonglei is not the only State experiencing conflict.

The UN’s priority is, first, and foremost, to stop the fighting, protect civilians, and preserve the peace process.

We are in constant contact with IGAD, the African Union, neighboring countries, and international partners to support coordinated diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and restore adherence to the peace agreement.

To be clear, the solution to the current crisis is political, not military.

The country’s leaders must take urgent, immediate action to pull back from the brink. They must cease hostilities, de-escalate tensions through inclusive dialogue, and return to consensus-based decision-making and actions.

The power to make positive change rests with the South Sudanese themselves.

This is a defining moment -a critical juncture for South Sudan.

The decisions it makes now could either lead them on a path towards peace or to further conflict.

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Contact: UNMISS Spokesperson at unmiss-spokesperson@un.org