XUNICEF News and Views

Attack on UN Forces in South Kordofan Poses New Risks of Sudan's Civil War Spreading into South Sudan Sudan's civil war has become increasingly difficult to follow, as battle lines shift rapidly between the RSF paramilitary and the Sudanese Army. The latest fighting centers on oil fields straddling the Sudan-South Sudan border—resources critical to both countries' survival. The country that was divided in two in 2011 now faces a potential partition into three: western Sudan controlled by the RSF, South Sudan, and a diminished Sudan in the east. Many UNICEF staff have worked in South Kordofan since a water programme office opened there in the late 1970s. Many others have worked further south in Abyei, a major flashpoint between northern and southern Sudan for decades. Ownership of the area around Abyei has been contested between northern and southern tribes for centuries. When South Sudan gained independence in July 2011, Abyei was deliberately excluded from the border agr...

Editor's Note:  While Rovina's Choice illuminates the devastating impact of cuts in USAID, its message extends far beyond one agency. The film confronts us with a stark reality: behind every foreign aid debate lie families forced to make impossible choices. Through one mother's struggle to feed her children, we witness the human cost of policy decisions made in distant capitals.  Please share this film widely. Send it to friends and family. Show it in your faith communities and civic groups. These stories need to be seen. -------- Hi everyone, The New Yorker has produced a 25 minute documentary on severe malnutrition and the impact of the USAID shutdown. Its called Rovina’s Choice. Atul Gawande narrates it. I think it’s brilliant. They have decided to make the film available without subscription via their YouTube channel. Please have a look.  Consider: how best to promote this work. How would Jim Grant have dealt with today’s situation? Many of you knew him very well an...

Who is the White Army, the militia at the centre of renewed conflict in South Sudan? Joseph Falzetta The New Humanitarian Click here for the article Summary The White Army, a loose militia drawn from Nuer communities, is at the heart of escalating conflict in South Sudan that has displaced tens of thousands and raised fears of a second civil war since independence in 2011.

Click here for the article The mysterious 'Fogbow' group is reshaping aid delivery in Gaza and Sudan

Article shared by Viviane Sakkal This is the story of a controversial marriage in South Sudan that has sparked national debate.

  Her future. Her choice, at the right age! Together, we can work towards the end of #ChildMarriage in South Sudan and around the world. #ForEveryChild , a childhood pic.twitter.com/RwMvvM0kbP — UNICEF South Sudan (@unicefssudan) November 24, 2023 Her future. Her choice, at the right age! Together, we can work towards the end of #ChildMarriage in South Sudan and around the world. #ForEveryChild , a childhood pic.twitter.com/RwMvvM0kbP — UNICEF South Sudan (@unicefssudan) November 24, 2023

Authorities at the Juba International Airport say a U.N. helicopter headed to Bor, carrying 16 passengers including four crew members, crashed Wednesday shortly after take-off. No passengers were injured. The head of Juba International Airport says aviation experts are looking into the cause of the crash. The aircraft, which was operated by the Rwandan contingent contracted by UNMISS, had 12 passengers and four crew members on board. According to the preliminary report, the plane belongs to the Rwanda contingent under UNMISS and it was going to Bor from Juba and from Bor to Ayod area. It was for an operational mission. Earlier crashes of UN military helicopters in South Sudan include: - February 2019 in Abyei - killed 3 and injured 10, including 2 critcally - August 2014 near Bentiu - killed 3 crew members

Lou Nuer White Army UN News UNMISS , the African Union mission, regional bloc IGAD, the so-called Troika (United States, United Kingdom, and Norway), the European Union, and the body overseeing the peace agreement signed by the warring parties in South Sudan (R-JMEC), issued a statement on Wednesday, saying they were “gravely concerned about the escalating ongoing violence, loss of life and reports of alleged use of heavy weaponry”. News reports quoting a local official said youths from the Nuer community had attacked members of the Murle ethnic group in Greater Pibor. The fighting began when armed youths attacked the village of Lanam, according to Greater Pibor’s information minister. He told news outlets that members of both groups suffered fatalities, with 17 Murle community members among those injured. The information minister for Jonglei state also reportedly condemned the fighting and called on young fighters from the state, to immediately end the violence, and return home. Both ...

Introducing a new 8 part UN Podcast Series - Uniting Against Hate. Click here for the webpage and introduction to the series. You can find Uniting Against Hate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify , Castbox , SoundCloud or wherever you get your podcasts. As a sample of the series we have skipped to episode 2 - Hate speech and violence in South Sudan, an interview with Edmund Yakani of the NGO, CEPO, in South Sudan about how politicians create ethnic divisions and violence through use of hate speech. Edmund Yakani Executive Director of Community Empowerment Progress Organization (CEPO) Click the arrow on the left below to listen to the interview Edmund Yakani, one of South Sudan’s most prominent human rights defenders, has frequently been subject to intimidation and harassment.  Mr. Yakani and other South Sudanese activists have called attention to how hate speech, both in-country and from the diaspora, is contributing to further violence in the world's newest country. In this episode,...

As part of the preparations for COP27 in Egypt next month the International Crisis Group has examined the links between climate change and violence in South Sudan. We encourage you to click on the Visit Visual Explainer link below to read the full report. Stresses brought about by climate change are an important driver of internal displacement in the Global South. The impact that displacement in turn has on conflict dynamics is amplified in fragile states, where political instability and poor governance undermine climate resilience, impede humanitarian support and pave the way for communal friction. A prime example is South Sudan, reeling from its recent civil war, where four consecutive years of historic flooding have exacerbated food and livelihood insecurity. Rising waters have sent pastoralists fleeing south, where their presence has increased tensions and contributed to violence in the Equatoria region. VISIT VISUAL EXPLAINER This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the si...