Sudan
Sudanese ceasefire doesn't stop hunger

afrol News, 20 February - While physical security has been somewhat enhanced for the civilian population of Southern Sudan, food security remains fragile despite of the ceasefire. A large number of persons remain internally displaced and a local drought has led to new shortages.

The newest reports on food security in Southern Sudan conclude on a situation that has barely changed as a result of the ceasefire signed in October last year. Several breaches of the ceasefire also underline the lack of progress for civilians. 

The oil-rich Liech district (Western Upper Nile), close to the "border" between Southern and Northern Sudan, has experienced increased fighting over the oil resources during January, leading to an even worse situation for the civilian population. While the peace negotiations are ongoing, government troops, their allied militias and the SPLA guerrilla is trying to achieve the best possible military position in areas with important natural resources to improve their negotiating position.

The fighting over the oil sources in Liech has led to the violent uprooting of over 50,000 civilians, and there are still reports on more or less regular breaches of the ceasefire in the district. The civilian population therefore still does not dare returning to their farm lands, thus risking further dependency on external food aid.

There are further few positive developments reported from areas that have remained peaceful since the ceasefire was implemented. Thousands of civilians are on the move, from one refugee camp to the other. The situation is made even worse by armed conflict in all neighbouring countries; Ethiopia, Uganda, Congo Kinshasa and the Central African Republic.

Those areas enjoying both peace and good agricultural conditions, such as Tambura and Ezo in the extreme south-west of the country, immediately become a destination for thousands of refugees and internally displaced. This, in the next run, often develops into new resource conflicts on questions over access to pasture and farm lands.

Further north in Southern Sudan, the drought currently paralysing Ethiopia and Eritrea is also affecting production. Humanitarian organisations fear civilians here may soon fall victim to serious food shortages, not the least because those neighbouring areas where food normally can be purchased are object to fighting or drought. Reports access some 30,000 Sudanese are already facing an alarming situation.

The aid organisations operating locally however report it has become easier to access those areas being in need of food distribution. The ceasefire has given an increased access to all parts of Southern Sudan, in sharp contrast to the situation earlier, when the warring parties used the starving communities as hostages.

The peace negotiations between the Khartoum government and the SPLA guerrilla started in July last year in Kenya and have so far led to a ceasefire from 15 October. Earlier this month, there was an agreement to improve the implementation of the ceasefire, especially regarding the fragile situation for civilians in the Liech oil-producing district. The resolution text in particular urged Liech farmers to return to their villages, but locals there remain sceptical.

The civil war between the Muslim-dominated government in the north and the Christian-dominated south has ravaged for decades. So far, it is estimated to have cost over 2 million human lives, mostly civilians. The peace accord foresees a lifting of the Muslim Shari'a laws in Southern Sudan and a referendum on independence for the South in sex years time.

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