More than 200,000 Are In Mortal Danger In South Kordofan

Due to continuous humanitarian aid restriction by the government, more than 200,000 people in South Kordofan of Sudan will suffer severe malnutrition and mortality if actions are not taken. U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos warned that essential supplies have already been depleted in many parts of South Kordofan, where government forces have been fighting with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army North (SPLA-N). The situation has been worsened by the Sudanese government’s humanitarian assistance restriction as the government refused to allow international agencies to replenish stocks and deploy personnel for the past six weeks.



Amos’ appeal repeats EU aid commissioner Kristalina Georgieva and EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton’s pleas which calls for the lifting of aid restrictions to South Kordofan. The Sudanese government and the SPLA-N are requested to lift restrictions on humanitarian organizations so they can deliver aid to people in need and avoid this big tragedy.

-Nisha Noor

SOURCE: DEVEX

UN-backed Polio Immunization Campaign Began In Southern Sudan

A three-day United Nations-backed Polio immunization campaign began in Southern Sudan on Monday in response to the recent outbreak of the disease after being free from Polio for last three years. The region experienced the last outbreak in 2008 when 60 infections were confirmed among children at that time, leaving them very vulnerable to the disease since few had previously received routine immunization. The current campaign is targeting children under the age of five and is an attempt to increase awareness among local population to understand the importance of meeting the full dosage of the vaccine.

The campaign has been organized by the Government of Southern Sudan in collaboration with UNICEF, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It can be noted that, Southern Sudan voted in January to secede from Sudan and is scheduled to become an independent nation on 9th July.

-Nisha Noor

SOURCE: UN NEWS CENTRE

South Sudan Votes For Independence

It looks like Africa's longest civil war between South Sudan and North Sudan, that killed nearly 2 million people and flooded the whole region with refugees is finally coming to an end. In a recent referendum, South Sudan voted overwhelmingly (98.83%) to declare its independence and decision to secede from the north. The referendum is the climax of a 2005 north-south peace accord that instilled democracy in the fractured country and opened the door to Africa's newest state.

With the decision to create a new Southern independent state, both North and South Sudan have to resolve some problems now: how to divide Sudan's crippling debt, how to position the north-south border, and how to share the oil revenue. It can be noted that Sudan's economy depends entirely on oil revenues and the Southern region controls the major share of oil production. If both regions can resolve these issues, we can certainly hope for peace in the conflict-ridden area of Sudan.

-Nisha Noor

SOURCE: MSNBC

Bring Peace to Sudan

In early 2011, the people of South Sudan will vote to be an independent nation, which could put them at risk of war with North Sudan again. South Sudan's conflict with North Sudan claimed approximately 2.5 million lives, leaving millions of families to mourn the loss of their loved ones. Both North and South Sudan suffer from the harsh conditions of poverty, and another war will only exacerbate this. George Clooney and the Enough Project recently spent time along the border between the north and south to show the challenges South Sudan faces in working to hold a peaceful referendum. The Enough Project's video (see above) is an attempt to get the international community and the U.S. government more involved in diplomacy efforts between the north and south of Sudan. Another effective method to get the U.S. government involved is to put pressure on your Senator or Representative to support this cause and increase spending on foreign aid. Take action! Call your district's Representative!

-Clare O.

SOURCE: New York Times