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The ICRC in South Sudan
08-02-2012 Overview
In South Sudan, the ICRC works to prevent violations of international humanitarian law and supports hospital and physical rehabilitation services. The organization improves water and sanitation systems and helps conflict-affected communities to survive and become self-sufficient. It also reunites families separated by conflict.
History
The ICRC established a delegation in South Sudan's biggest city, Juba, when the country became independent on 9 July 2011, although the organization's operations in southern Sudan began in 1986 following the outbreak of conflict between the north and the south. The ICRC has two sub-delegations, in Malakal and Wau.
Many communities still affected by violence
After 30 years of conflict, the northern regions of today's South Sudan remain particularly volatile. Different interpretations of the borderline have led to clashes between South Sudan and Sudan. Fighting in Blue Nile and South Kordofan, both in Sudan, has caused thousands of refugees to flee into South Sudan, placing a strain on local resources.
Clashes between armed groups and the South Sudanese armed forces have led to displacement and caused civilian casualties. Landmines continue to take a toll on communities and complicate humanitarian access.
In areas bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, armed groups abduct people – especially children – during attacks on civilians, disrupting the livelihood of entire communities. South Sudan is also prey to devastating inter-communal and inter-ethnic violence linked to disputes over livestock and seasonal migration.
Protecting civilians in conflict
One of the ICRC's priorities in South Sudan is to promote compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) in armed conflict. ICRC delegates monitor the application of IHL and make confidential representations to parties to the conflict if necessary. They also remind the authorities and weapon bearers of their obligations under IHL, particularly with regard to the conduct of hostilities and the duty to protect people not participating in fighting.
The ICRC provides legal advice and support to the government of South Sudan on the process of acceding to and implementing the main instruments of IHL, such as the Geneva Conventions.
Improving access to health care
From 1987 to 2006, the ICRC ran a hospital in Lokichokio, Kenya, where it treated wounded civilians and combatants from southern Sudan. The ICRC also supported the Juba Teaching Hospital for 14 years until 2007.
An ICRC medical team based at Malakal Teaching Hospital performs essential surgery and stands ready to perform war surgery where needed. The team is also providing long-term specialist training to hospital staff to enhance surgical services and paediatric care. The ICRC is building a new operating theatre, overhauling existing buildings and upgrading the water system.
In 2009, the ICRC opened a centre in Juba to care for physically disabled people, particularly landmine victims. The ICRC continues to support this (now government-run) centre, the only one of its kind in the country, which provides prosthetic and orthotic services, elbow crutches, wheelchair services and physiotherapy for thousands of people each year.
Assistance for families
In close cooperation with the South Sudan Red Cross, the ICRC supports vulnerable families, particularly civilians displaced by fighting, by distributing basic household items, food, seed and other livelihood tools such as fishing nets. It runs large-scale animal vaccination programmes in collaboration with the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries.
The ICRC drills boreholes, repairs or replaces water points and pumps and is installing solar panels to power pumps in water treatment yards.
Supporting the National Society
The ICRC boosts the capacity of the South Sudan Red Cross by providing structural, financial, material and logistical support, along with training and advice.
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