At High-level Meeting, Secretary-General Tells Leaders of South Sudan, ‘You Opened

 

the Wounds that Have Caused so Much Suffering.  Now Heal Them’

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the high-level meeting on Hope for South Sudan, in New York today:

Nine months ago, conflict started in South Sudan.  Tens of thousands have been killed.  Nearly 2 million people have fled their homes.  Nearly half a million have crossed borders into neighbouring countries.

I saw the conditions first hand when I visited in May.  I was appalled by the humanitarian situation.  Almost a hundred thousand people are sheltering at United Nations peacekeeping bases.  Without the UN’s protection, thousands would probably have died.

Outside UN bases, hundreds of thousands of displaced people live in insecurity and lack the basics to survive.  Humanitarian agencies face enormous problems in reaching them.

Around 4 million people — more than a third of the entire country — suffer alarming food insecurity.  Unless we act quickly, some 50,000 children could die before the end of this year.

South Sudan has fertile land and valuable reserves of oil.  It has a potentially vibrant economy.  But, instead of thriving, the country is failing.

The dire humanitarian situation is primarily man-made.  I have told the parties there is no military solution to the conflict.  The international community must remain committed to impose punitive measures on those responsible for the violence and impeding the peace process.

I call today, once again, on the leadership of both sides to find an inclusive and mutually agreed power-sharing arrangement to start a transitional phase of governance.  An agreement leaving key stakeholders outside the transition will not bring sustainable peace.  It cannot be imposed.

A peace agreement will also have to address convincingly the causes of the conflict, in particular, transparency and accountability in the management of oil resources, which must be used to improve the welfare of the majority and not to benefit a minority.

Those responsible for atrocities must face justice through a mechanism that meets international standards.  There can be no amnesty for anyone responsible for killing innocent civilians.  The leaders must protect civilians, allow humanitarian access and guarantee the safety of aid operations.

The international community must intensify its support for South Sudan.  I commend the troop-contributing countries.  I thank all the donors.  But, we must do more to meet the enormous needs.

The United Nations is supporting the people of South Sudan with the biggest humanitarian operation ever undertaken in a country.   Reinforcements of 5,000 peacekeepers are being deployed.  We are supporting the IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] peace process.

I have a message for the leaders of South Sudan:  You opened the wounds that have caused so much suffering.  Now heal them.

The parties owe this to their people and future generations.  Thank you for your leadership and commitment.

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For information media • not an official record