Toby Lanzer, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, has called on the two sides in the South Sudanese civil war to observe the month of May as a ‘month of tranquility’ as an alternative to the failed cessation of hostilities signed in January.
The government and rebels signed on 23 January the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, but since have both committed ‘flagrant violations’ of the deal, according to the mediators.
Owing to the conflict more than 900,000 people are displaced within the country, another 300,000 plus have fled to neighboring countries, and more than 200,000 refugees who were in South Sudan before the crisis are also affected.
This puts the total number of refugees and displaced people affected by the crisis in South Sudan at more than 1.4 million. Many of these people have lost farms, livestock, or access to other livelihoods such as fishing, trade or formal employment.
“I call on all parties to the conflict in South Sudan to observe one month of tranquility this May; to stop the violence and to provide a safe environment for civilians caught by the conflict at this most crucial time of the year,” Lanzer said.
In a press statement, the UN humanitarian office in the country explained that the ‘month of tranquility’ would allow time for people to move freely to tend their livestock or seek asylum in neighbouring countries.
Second, the one month without violence would allow people to plant and cultivate, said Lanzer. “April and May are the time to plant. April is behind us; only May is left to enable people to prepare their fields and try to ensure that they have a harvest at the end of 2014,” he said.
Lanzer concluded, “While the only way to reverse this crisis and its grave humanitarian consequences is to find a political resolution to the conflict, one month of tranquility this May is a tangible step that will have an immediate impact on the lives of millions of people.”