3.B - what are the impacts of intervention on local communities in South Sudan? Flashcards
preliminary facts about S. Sudan
- landlocked = trade is difficut
- large mix of ethnicities
- young population
- healthcare infrastructure not very developed. very low life expectancy and high mortality
- LIDC (83% rural population)
- became a country in 2011
mortality statistics South Sudan
- life expectancy 42 years
- maternal mortality **2054 per 100,000 **births
- child mortality 105 per 1,000 births
health statistics South Sudan
- 6% of children under 2 years fully immunized
- malaria is the leading cause of death and disease responsible for 25% of deaths. 2 in every 10 people seen at health facilities die from malaria
- 7% households using improved sanitation
population statistics South Sudan
- pop estimate for 2013 12 million
- 51% population below 18 yrs
- 83% rural population
- avg. household size 6
economy statistics South Sudan
- GDP estimated $13billion (92% of which comes from oil) which suggests corruption. they are oil rich but very poor.
- 51% living below national poverty line of less than a dollar per day
what is the background to the South Sudan conflict?
- President Salva Kiir (Dinka) sacked his deputy Riek Machar (Nuer).
- he accused him of plotting a coup. Machar denies it and an ethnic conflict breaks out.
SINCE 2013:
- the fighting has killed at least 50,000.
- 2.3 million are displaced, 6m are hungry, 70% schools are closed.
how many ethnicities are there in S Sudan?
over 60 ethnicities total in S. Sudan
- Dinka 36%
- Nuer 16%
what are the interventions of the UN in south sudan?
- aid/resources
- 17,000 troops
- POC camps (6 camps, 220,000 people)
- Bentiu (120,000)
- observing
- peace treaty
how does UN operate in S Sudan?
- UN, through UNMISS, operate in S Sudan on a large scale, with 17,000 troops from multiple countries spread in bases through S Sudan.
- they work out of UN military camps and 6 POCs
how does UN provide humanitarian assistance in S Sudan?
in order to provide the humanitarian assistance needed for the 220,000 people who live in the POCs, the UN have to cooperate and coordinate with NGOs, such as the Red Cross or MSF as it is these who are responsible for helping provide healthcare for the displaced population
what is Bentiu?
- Bentiu is the largest POC, currently home to 120,000.
- it contains homes, markets, schools and clinics.
- the population are provided with food and water but women have to risk leaving everyday to collect firewood.
- they are safer there than they would be in their villages, so it has created different types of local communities.
- however, they cannot farm there or earn a living.
how was UNMISS reinforced?
- UNMISS was reinforced in 2014 w/ a new mandate.
- originally after 4 years of interdependence, the mandate was to support the S Sudanese govt in peace consolidation, state building and economic devp.
- but following the Dec 2013 crisis, military and police presence has been increased.
- this involves 12500 military personnel, 1000 police plus 2500 others contributing from countries across the globe.
what has the new emphasis for UNMISS been?
- to consolidate peace and security
- protect civilians
- monitor human rights
- implement the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement
- and support delivery of humanitarian assistance.
which other UN agencies have been working in S Sudan?
- other UN agencies working in the country include UNICEF, important in a country where total fertility rate is 5.3 and 45% of pop is under 15.
evaluative comments on effectiveness of UN in S Sudan
- saved 10,000 lives
- not very good long term
- challenges sovereignty and encourages dependency
- scale of confict compared with 6 POC camps. scale of response not enough with 4 mill IDPS.
- POC camps long term problem. UN then has to protect these people.
- didnt manage to secure peace, 7 years of conflict before peace treaty.
how has the UK government helped to mitigate the effects of the conflict in S Sudan?
- the UK government has donated £100m to S Sudan via UKAID.
- this has funded major elements of S Sudan’s education and healthcare.
- it doesnt work alone but works in partnership with NGOs on the ground in S Sudan.
- Oxfam also recieves funds from UKAID = improved sanitation and healthcare
how does UK spending help girls in S Sudan?
- some of the UK spending on education funds the work of the charity Girls Education in S Sudan (GESS) which supports 4000 schools enabling 1/2 million children to revieve an education.
- some of this money funds places for girls whose parents would not otherwise be able to afford an education.
what is the role of NGOs helping to mitigate the effects of the conflict?
- able to access challenging areas
- work with the UN to assist local communities
- harassment and violence against NGO workers e.g. forced evacuation of Upper Nile State => leaves population vulnerable and blocks food relief in Nile.
- food drops create famine as they don’t meet the needs of the population
evaluative comments on effectiveness of NGOs in S Sudan
- improving cholera outbreak and education = improved QoL (bottom up approach)
- neutral, help all sides
- working with S Sudanese NGOs provides work for locals/more sustainable
- aid dependency - ↑ reliance on NGOs => places cant cope by themselves
- limited scale
- lack of trust between communities and NGO workers can cause conflict
- food aid issues = affecting stability as ↓ farmers income and ↓ trade. dropzones = insufficient food amounts and deaths from walking to drop zones.
- food aid ↓ prosperity for local communities.
- education is long term -> not stopping the fighting and not immediate.
how are the Sudanese govt trying to intervene in the conflict?
- weak and instable
- caused the conflict
- 2015 peace treaty
- signed up to UN convention on human rights but not really acted on it
- IGAD attempts to create peace talks
how have the Sudanese govt failed when trying to intervene in the conflict?
- human rights violations in unity and upper nile provinces = people moved to PoC camps or become refugees.
- lack of protection for settlements and continuous fighting = breaks down local communities
- peace deals failed to give rights and political decisions to some ethnic groups => more active fighting
- prevented representatives from travelling to Addis Ababa to participate in IGAD Plus Peace Process
- 2016 peace treaty oblitorated = further conflict
what is IGAD?
- countries around south sudan
- not effective as take sides
evaluative comments on effectiveness of government in S Sudan
NEGATIVE.
- causing and continuing
- govt are really the only ones who can stop the conflict
which instituion was most influential in interventing in S Sudan?
- UN = large scale
- lack of cooperation between govts = long term challenges (poverty, water and grazing rights, trafficking of women and children)
- NGOs too small to make an impact (scale limitation) as there are many IDPs (2.3mill)
- NGOs are localised and aimed at more LT devp but not ST fighting needs (need the conflict to stop)
- MOST POTENTIAL = S SUDAN GOVT
- although least effective, through flow of ideas could stop conflict however have not
INTERVENTION - UN set up POC camps in 2013.
- Is this positive/negative?
- how did it impact local communities QoL?
(South Sudan conflict)
- positive in ST, possibly negative in the longer term
- provide safety for 10,000s of local people. provide healthcare, food and shelter for them.
- camps however are ideal places for disease to spread, and can lead to dependency as the govt doesnt take responsibility for these people.
- very expensive for the UN so not a LT strategy.
INTERVENTION - villagers recieve training in livestock.
- Is this positive/negative?
- how did it impact local communities QoL?
(South Sudan conflict)
- positive in LT. improves LT food security => ↓ chance of going hungry and having to travel to drop zones.
- improved LT food security
- improved QoL as now have a good food supply = ↓ starvation
- teaching and training on use of fishing equipment and maintaining livestock health also
INTERVENTION - during the dry season NGOs and the UN position food supplies to survive the wet season
- Is this positive/negative?
- how did it impact local communities QoL?
(South Sudan conflict)
1.
- positive ST.
- undermines local food production and decreases farmers income.
- reduces effects of famine close to drop zones
- may cause dependency.
- limit effects of famine
- provided access to clean water and hygiene advice.
INTERVENTION - WHO set up cholera treatment centres
- Is this positive/negative?
- how did it impact local communities QoL?
(South Sudan conflict)
- positive longer term
- ↓ no. of diseases = ↓ death
- good long term and short term
- longer term as people become healthier again
- provided access to clean water and hygiene advice
INTERVENTION - UN struggle to move around the country during fighting and in the wet season.
- Is this positive/negative?
- how did it impact local communities QoL?
(South Sudan conflict)
- NEGATIVE
- unable to access location where violence is ongoing
=> increased conflict in those areas whilst maintaining it in others => unequal level of safety and increased conflict divide. - aid on which people depend on have been extorted for their resources they need such as food and medicine
- have to abandon homes = starvation
- can’t carry out their mandate of protecting citizens
INTERVENTION - food aid has undermined farmers locally
- Is this positive/negative?
- how did it impact local communities QoL?
(South Sudan conflict)
- negative as undermines local produce and ↓ farmers income => have to change their ways of living
- distribution of Food Aid for free
- demand for locally sourced goods has ↓
INTERVENTION - UK government aid projects have helped set up education centres
- Is this positive/negative?
- how did it impact local communities QoL?
(South Sudan conflict)
1.
- provides potential for development
- overcomes poverty barriers
- raises awareness of the importance of education
- not short term help w/ conflict
- LT economic development
- (- US donated $3bn since 2014)
- UK govt spent £100 mill in 2017
- govt works alongside NGOs who facilitate distribution of aid
- GESS = 4000 schools and in POCs
> 200,000 girls and 300,000 boys
> cash transfers
Summary (South Sudan conflict):
who intervened in the conflict and how did they do this? what flows?
UN - money, people and military. tried to create stability by saving 1000s of lives by providing POC camps (and peace treaty)
NGOs - people and humanitarian aid, food and water. alongside govt, assisting local communities e.g. GESS
international bodies - peacekeepers
Summary (South Sudan conflict):
what positive impacts of intervention for local communites?
- provided safer place/help
- food and water
- improved QoL, education, prevention against diseases
- ST stability and tried to keep peace.
- LT Aid projects e.g. GESS and education centres. improvements in healthcare
- LT- NGOs aimed at LT devp.
Summary (South Sudan conflict):
what negative impacts of intervention for local communites?
ST:
- lack of cooperation of govts. leads to poverty.
- food aid creates famines and in rural areas farmers cant make a living.
- inability to actually solve conflict
LT:
- POCs spread disease/create dependency/disperse communities
- govt restricted movements
- have to police POCs => crime/leave to get firewood = left at risk
- over reliance.
