Humanitarian Action in Southern Sudan Report, week 26, 22 - 28 Jun 2009

SUMMARY/HIGHLIGHTS

- The Sobat River Corridor is set to reopen following UN intervention

- LRA attacks persist in both DR Congo and Southern Sudan

- Inter-clan fighting drags on in Lakes and Western Equatoria States

I. FOCUS ON SECURITY AND HUMANITARIAN ACCESS

Sobat River Corridor set to reopen for humanitarian aid and commercial cargo

Humanitarian assistance will start moving along the Sobat River Corridor, providing relief to tens of thousands in Upper Nile and Jonglei States, says a press statement issued by the Office of the UN Deputy Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UN DRHC) in Southern Sudan, Ms. Lise Grande. On 26 June the UN DRHC met with the Acting Governor of Upper Nile State, Mr. Thon Mum Kejok and the Commissioners of the four counties along the Sobat Corridor namely; Baliet, Panyikang, Ulang and Nasir Counties. During the meeting, the parties agreed on the steps necessary to reopen the corridor from Nassir to Akobo. Reopening the route will allow the much-needed humanitarian aid and commercial goods to be delivered to at-risk populations, including 19,000 displaced people in hard-hit Akobo County, Jonglei State.

The meeting followed the attack on a WFP food aid convoy on 12 June in which 735MT of food was lost. The Head of the World Food Programme in Southern Sudan, Mr. Iain McDonald, who attended the meeting in Malakal said that the re-opening of the Sobat River Corridor to river traffic, both commercial and humanitarian,was vital if a long-term humanitarian disaster is to be avoided.

[SOURCES: UNDRHC Press Office]

Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) carries out more attacks within Southern Sudan

Government sources reported clashes between Ugandan forces (UPDF) and the LRA at a village called Ataki, 30 km southwest of Aba in DRC on three occasions between 1st and 9th June. As a result UNHCR received over 300 Congolese civilians who crossed the border into Southern Sudan and registered as refugees at Lasu refugee settlement. On 20th and 25th June, the LRA attacked Ezo Town and along the Yambio - Gangura road killing three people and looting food and property.

II. CURRENT ISSUES