Sudan Violence - South Kordofan
June 2011
The Situation:
In early January the citizens of Southern Sudan voted on a referendum to secede from Sudan and form their own country. The date set for creating this independent state was July 9, 2011. It was feared early on that violence might erupt after the announced results since the government of Sudan rests in the north while most of the natural resources are in the south and would be under the control of Southern Sudan after it seceded.
Immediately following the announcement of the referendum results in February violence was kept to a minimum but in the past week an outbreak of violence between Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Nuba-SPLA (Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army) opposition forces has resulted in targeted violence and the killing of civilians in Kadugli, the major city of South Kordofan. It is estimated that more than 50,000 people have been displaced since fighting broke out; some civilians have sought protection from the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) compound outside the city. A large, but so far unknown number of civilians have fled towards the mountainous parts of Nuba, and some towards larger towns in northern Sudan. Civilians remaining in Kadugli and other towns such as Dilling have not been able to leave their homes for five days running. Food, water and fuel are reported to be increasingly scarce.
Humanitarian efforts are severely hampered by ongoing fighting. Several humanitarian actors are relocating or evacuating staff due to severe risks on their lives while their access to the region is actively being denied by the Sudanese authorities. The result of all this is a population of more than 300,000 people besieged and cut off from humanitarian assistance. The ELCA and its companions are deeply concerned by both reports of indiscriminate attacks on civilians in the region and the impending food and health crisis that could result from farmer’s inability to safely harvest their crops in the region.
Situation Report:
ELCA Response:
ELCA Global Mission participated in a Round Table last November to focus on the work of the Lutheran World Federation-Sudan Program during the referendum transition period and beyond. The Round Table focused on the anticipated movement of people within Sudan and neighboring countries in the months before and after the January referendum and any post-referendum violence acknowledging the transition in moving towards South Sudan's independence would be difficult.
Forward looking, the ELCA contributed $50,000 from ELCA Disaster Response to an appeal coordinated by the ACT Alliance to prepare local partners for response to the movement of people and provide a minimum for preparedness within Sudan – including the "pre-positioning" of non-food aid in critical areas, including Jonglei. Such aid includes water purification tablets, mosquito nets, blankets, mats, cooking implement, and hygiene items.
Using a special bequest to ELCA Disaster Response, the ELCA also contributed $250,000 to establish a fund for the pre-positioning of emergency non-food supplies in neighboring countries and expedite response to humanitarian crisis in the region. This revolving emergency fund was arranged through the LWF.
What you can do:
Pray:
Engage in prayer with Christians around the world for an ending to the violence and bloodshed where human life and dignity are honored. For examples of prayer petitions see this link from the ELCA Worship page.
Advocate:
Please contact Ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Your message can be left at 212-415-4062 or you can send a message. Urge the U.S., in coordination with the United Nations, to act decisively to end the violence and ensure protection of and humanitarian assistance to the people of Southern Kordofan.
Study and Share:
As the world continues to look at Sudan with anxious eyes please check back here and with the following organizations for updates:
Give:
Gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response help us to provide immediate and effective support to communities which are in need. Please consider giving to support the needs of this response and others like it. Information on different ways to give is provided in the left sidebar. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.