Urgent action is needed to avoid escalation into a humanitarian disaster in Southern Sudan, warns a new report from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
In 2009, conflict and violence displaced over 390 000 people in Southern Sudan, while 2500 were killed. The humanitarian situation in the autonomous region is set to deteriorate further during 2010, due to continued conflict, drought and food insecurity.
The NRC report was launched one month before the national elections in Sudan - a milestone in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between North and South Sudan. The report argues that failing to address intra-South causes of conflict would render a successful CPA process largely meaningless, with regards to the current humanitarian situation in the South.
In the report NRC outlines tree priority areas for urgent action from the international community, donors, Sudanese authorities, the UN and humanitarian organisations:
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Address key challenges related to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to ensure progress in the peace process and reduce the risk of renewed North-South fighting.
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Reduce the potential for increased fighting within Southern Sudan through strengthening conflict resolution to handle land, water and grazing rights issues; and generating a larger peace dividend through increased basic service delivery and infrastructure development.
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Prepare for a worsening humanitarian crisis through boosting emergency response capacities, particularly in areas vulnerable to inter-ethnic tensions, drought, food insecurity and displacement.
For media enquires, kindly contact:
Siri Elverland, Press Adviser
Mobile: +47 93 21 82 19, e-mail: siri.elverland@nrc.no