South Sudan Foreign Minister Stresses Continuous Efforts to Stop the War

South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Deng Dau
South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Deng Dau
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South Sudan Foreign Minister Stresses Continuous Efforts to Stop the War

South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Deng Dau
South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Deng Dau

South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Deng Dau warned against the expansion of the war in Sudan, which he said directly affects his country in terms of security, economy, politics and society.

He noted that the long border between the two countries, from east to west, embraces 12 crossings, and has allowed the evacuation of more than 40,000 nationals of 11 countries from Europe, Africa, Asia and America.

In a telephone interview with Asharq Al-Awsat from Juba, Dau stressed that his country was exerting continuous efforts for the success of an expected meeting with the parties to the conflict, with the aim to conduct a dialogue that would stop the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.

“There is an urgent need for material and logistical support from humanitarian organizations, to meet the growing demand, in terms of relief, food, shelter and treatment for refugees in the border areas between Sudan and South Sudan...” He stated. “If the war continues until the end of the month, we will expect the number of refugees and those fleeing the country to exceed 170,000, as we receive about 500 people every day.”

He explained that the initiative launched by President Salva Kiir Mayardit for a one-week truce in Sudan, came as a result of an extension of the initiative launched by the president on April 16, and was accepted by both parties to the conflict.

According to Dau, President Salva Kiir appealed, through direct contact with the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Rapid Support Forces, Lieutenant General Mohammad Hamdan Hamidti, to stop the war, and sit around a dialogue table to resolve the crisis between the two sides.

Dau noted that the initiative put forward by the president of South Sudan was based on four axes, including a one-week cease-fire, followed by each side appointing its delegation for the talks, then specifying the location and timing of the dialogue, and finally launching the peace talks.

The foreign minister pointed to fierce clashes in Khartoum, stressing that those led to the suspension of basic services at the airport.

He also emphasized the importance of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to evacuate nationals from more than 96 countries and expressed appreciation for the Saudi-American initiative to end the conflict.

Dau said that any conflict, war or instability in Sudan will affect the countries of the region as a whole. He stressed that Juba welcomes any endeavors of the African Union, or those led by Saudi Arabia, America or other countries, as they all fall in the same direction to stop the war and achieve peace.

“Our vision is for the Sudanese to try to manage the dialogue themselves, but on the other hand, this does not preclude the engagement of other parties in the region to contribute to finding possible solutions to the crisis and achieving peace,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Regarding the effectiveness of the emergency program of the United Nations organizations on the border between the two countries, Dau explained that the border areas suffer from many humanitarian problems due to the presence of several refugee camps.

“In 2010 and 2012, there were 340,000 Sudanese refugees from the border states, such as the states of the Kordofan and White Nile regions, while the current conflict exacerbated the humanitarian situation, which requires urgent aid,” he stated.

The foreign minister said that South Sudan’s oil exports, through Port Sudan, have not been affected by the conflict so far, pointing out that the pipeline connecting Juba to Port Sudan, was not subjected to any targeting.



UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)

One of the UN’s top humanitarian officials in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned that the situation will worsen if the conflict continues, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He stressed that the ongoing war is placing immense strain on both the UN and the Lebanese government, as over a million people have been displaced. He said current needs exceed $400 million, but only 12% of that amount has been raised so far.

Worsening Crisis

Riza, who is the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the past two weeks as “catastrophic” for civilians, with the crisis growing over the last year.

More than 600,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected, with 300,000 crossing the border, according to Riza.

Many of these people have been displaced more than once in search of safety. Riza emphasized that the war has severely impacted civilians, with more than a quarter of Lebanon's population affected.

The UN has been working to address the crisis, but Riza said resources are limited.

He stressed that the UN has been saying all year that it doesn’t have enough funds, even when there were only 110,000 displaced people.

Last week, the UN launched a $426 million appeal for urgent humanitarian aid, with 12% of the funding already secured.

Riza said more support is expected, with donor countries pledging additional help.

He also expressed gratitude for contributions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provided medical and relief supplies, and said the UN hopes to see more international assistance soon.

Working with the Government

The UN is working closely with the Lebanese government every day to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and water to those in need.

Cooperation with the government has been excellent, said Riza.

However, he acknowledged that the government’s capacity is weakened after five years of ongoing crises, which have also severely impacted the population.

People are less resilient than they were during the 2006 war, and the government and its institutions are weaker, affirmed Riza.

The UN is helping the government respond effectively, ensuring transparency and accountability, so that aid reaches those who need it, he added.

The UN is also collaborating with local and international NGOs that have gained experience from Lebanon’s recent crises, helping to ensure a more effective response. Shelters are also being monitored to prevent any abuse.

A Different Reality from 2006

The current situation in Lebanon is very different from the 2006 war. Politically, the country now has a caretaker government and no president, with much less international presence.

Back then, other countries were more involved, said Riza.

The 2006 war lasted only 33 days, but this conflict has dragged on for a year, he noted.

During recent visits to southern border areas, Riza said locals were asking when the war would end, as the situation has worsened significantly in the past two weeks.

Riza noted that, in the first week of the crisis, it was extremely difficult to respond, and even now, many displaced people remain without shelter.

The UN is working with the government to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, but it’s not easy, he noted.

Displacement Crisis

With winter approaching, Riza stressed the need to properly house displaced people, saying that people can’t be left without shelter.

There are also concerns over a lack of housing, clean water, and sanitation, as well as the risk of disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, Riza praised the close cooperation between the UN, international organizations, and partners.

Many agencies are responding, he asserted.

Riza rejected any claims of discrimination between displaced groups, noting that both Lebanese and Syrians are currently staying in UNRWA schools. He added that talks with the government about sheltering displaced Syrians have been positive.

Riza also expressed concern about the school year and children’s education.

Prolonged Conflict

The United Nations sees no immediate solution to the humanitarian and military crisis in Lebanon, with Riza stressing that the solution must be political and diplomatic, but first, a ceasefire is needed.

While there is little optimism for an end to the conflict, Riza said, the UN is encouraged by the support from its partners, which helps the organization assist the displaced.

He mentioned the recent evacuation of 1,000 people from Ain Ebel and aid distribution in Tyre, emphasizing the need to ensure that they reach those in need.

Riza called on all sides to respect international and humanitarian laws, allowing safe access for aid workers.

He condemned violations, including the deaths of firefighters, health workers, civil defense staff, and UN personnel, adding that the toll on civilian and health infrastructure is growing.