The Situation in South Sudan - December 30, 2013

While the situation in South Sudan continues to be of grave concern and uncertain, the situation in Juba is currently stable. NP remains committed to implementing unarmed civilian peacekeeping and protection work where possible. Tens of thousands of civilians are affected by the conflict, escalating the need for critical protection work and for ongoing solidarity for the innocent men, women and children being affected by the fighting.

Due to the fluctuating situation, for now most regular program work is on hold to allow for thorough analysis and risk mitigation measure to be put into place. Only program work vetted by NP management team and approved by the CEO is and will be engaged in until the situation settles and program re-planning can take place.

Currently the NP team in Juba are working together with UNMISS and other agencies UNICEF, IOM, and UNHCR in providing protection programming of internally displaced persons (IDPs) at two of the displacement camps in Juba. NP’s experienced child protection staff are working together with partner agencies and have launched protection work programming to support the most vulnerable of the displaced community. NP was among the first organizations to be asked by the UN to engage in protection, partly due to NP's proven history of providing effective programming in emergency situation and the team’s ongoing commitment to remain with the people of South Sudan.
The NP team has all come into Juba to ensure maximum staff security and to be able to provide the maximum possible violence prevention and protection for the tens of thousands of affected civilians. Our colleague that had been injured in the fighting in Jonglei State has arrived safely in Juba and has received further medical treatment. He has now traveled to his home to spend the holidays with his family.

The status of the NP South Sudanese colleagues and local partners who remain in their home villages is being monitored with daily check in calls and when the security situation permits, the NP international and relocatable staff will return to the 9 field bases.