Dec 16, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — Speaking at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in South Sudan, the UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jonathan Allen, calls on the Security Council to take serious actions against the South Sudanese leaders to get them to implement the peace agreement they have put aside for more than two years.
“I take what David Shearer said about the fact that the violence is by no means as bad as it was previously, and that is a mercy, but it is a sad and profound reality that over two years since the Peace Agreement and one year since this Council visited Juba, millions of South Sudanese are yet to see real peace dividends.” Ambassador Allen stressed.
The UK Deputy ambassador was reacting to slow implementation of the peace agreement, lack of humanitarian access and a looming famine in the war-torn South Sudan.
“This year, we’ve seen the declining food security picture affecting millions and catalyzed by subnational violence, slow implementation of the Peace Agreement and record flooding. As Mark Lowcock has been clear, the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, released on Friday, showed that there is likely to be a famine occurring in Western Pibor, and thousands more people living in famine like conditions in five other counties.” Amb. Allen stressed.
Citing resolution 2417, the UK ambassador calls for actions to be taken on South Sudan.
“Now, colleagues, resolution 2417 places an onus on this Council to take action when we see a clear link between conflict and food insecurity. This is unmistakably the case in South Sudan.” He said.
According to Ambassador Allen, U.K has contributed 10 millions U.S. Dollar in October alone and given that South Sudan’s leaders, who are not helping their own citizens are making the humanitarian assistance even harder by blocking humanitarian access, the UNSC should take action.
“The United Kingdom is one of the major humanitarian donors in South Sudan. This October, we committed a further $10 million in assistance in addition to our humanitarian aid spend, which last financial year has totaled $218 million. But colleagues, international support and humanitarian aid and cannot solve this alone. Ultimate responsibility lies with South Sudan’s government.” Amb. Allen said.
“The situation will only worsen if we do not act. Now is the time for to step up and show leadership.” he added.
The UK Ambassador calls it a shame that the South Sudan government representative to the UN Security Council did not even show up to hear the discussion on his country and his people.
“And it’s a great shame that, again, the representative of South Sudan has not made a rule 37 request to be with us in this Council today as we discuss the plight facing millions of his countrymen.” Amb. Allen said.
Amb. Allen further stressed that the South Sudanese leaders must corporate and show leadership by allowing humanitarian access and by releasing the IPC analysis on their country.
“We call on the government of South Sudan to accept the gravity of the situation, support the release of the full IPC analysis, and to cooperate and provide unfettered access to humanitarian partners.” He said.
“Efforts to impede the IPC process help nobody and although humanitarian aid is crucial, the bottom line is that this crisis can only be resolved if the South Sudan’s leaders show political will.” He added.
The UK Deputy Ambassador urged the council to recognize that South Sudan crisis is being created and fueled by individual politicians and that needs to be addressed to end violence, forced civilian displacement, abductions, sexual and gender based violence.
“Now, Mr. President, we must also recognise the manmade nature of this crisis. Successive cycles of violence, have resulted in forced civilian displacement, abductions and notable increases in sexual and gender based violence.” He said.
