War continues in South Sudan
Doctors with Africa CUAMM joins other Italian and international institutions to demand a cease fire as soon as possible. CUAMM is keeping services active for the people of south Sudan in seven counties and three hospitals, where we work with 17 Italians, 39 workers of different African nationalities, and about 650 South Sudanese people.
A few days after fighting resumed in South Sudan, the president Salva Kiir and the vice president Riek Macha, have already called for a cease-fire. Our staff is still in South Sudan to provide care and support to the people.
However, the new phase of instability that the country is facing, mainly affecting the capital city, Juba, is worsening its already fragile economic and social situation and jeopardizes the small assurances that peace agreements had given the entire international community, especially donors.
We are closely following the development of the situation thanks to our staff, which communicates with the network of all NGOs operating in South Sudan.
We are in regular contact with the Foreign Ministry Crisis Unit, which is monitoring the situation and evaluating evacuation options if the situation deteriorates, and when the airport of Juba is open (it is currently closed, at least for international flights).
For those working in the field — based on experience and on the current situation — we consider the project sites, and especially the hospital, the most protected and respected locations, even if the crisis were to spread within the country.
Nonetheless, we are already implementing an evacuation plan with the operational support of MAF Uganda to ensure that all staff can leave South Sudan, as required by our safety standards, if they feel no longer able to continue their work, requesting to be moved to other locations, or to temporarily leave their positions.
