Three Years After Independence, South Sudan Plagued by "hunger, disease and insecurity"


The people of South Sudan are plagued by "hunger, disease and insecurity" three years after gaining independence from Sudan.

That's according to the UN Secretary-General.

Ban Ki-moon has urged the leaders of Africa's newest nation to live up to the expectations of their people and end what he called "a man-made crisis."
Conflict broke out in December 2013 between the government and the rebel forces of the former Vice-President.
Thousands of South Sudanese have been killed, and atrocities have been committed against civilians.

The Spokesperson for the Secretary-General is Stéphane Dujarric.
"The South Sudanese people are bearing the brunt of the failure to stop the fighting. They are living in squalor, their livelihoods have been lost and they are plagued by hunger, disease and insecurity. Over 1.3 million people have been driven from their homes and, unless the resources are forthcoming and the parties cooperate, hundreds of thousands face the possibility of famine in the coming months."

Mr Ban reassured the people of South Sudan that the UN mission, UNMISS, would continue to provide them the protection and humanitarian assistance that is their basic right.

SOURCE: Sophie Outhwaite, UNRadio