The ICRC in South Sudan

Presentation

International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva October 2015

Context

• Peace agreement, but slow implementation

• IDP mostly in remote areas • Emergency needs and little

resilience• Protection concerns• Volatility, difficult

humanitarian access

1. Emergency response and resilience building

2. Enhancing access to healthcare and comprehensive hospital services and primary health care

3. Improving conditions of detention and treatment of detainees

4. Improving the behaviour of weapon bearers

HUMANITARIAN PRIORITIES

EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RESILIENCE BUILDING

Humanitarian FocusDisplaced people, host residents and returnees have their ESSENTIAL NEEDS covered in a sustainable manner

Through• Emergency food response• Build on existing and traditional resilience-building

mechanisms to reduce exposure to risks

Impact (Jan 2014 to September 2015)

• 1.3 mio. monthly food rations across 9 states and regular food distribution to over 150,000 people

• Household essentials for over 570,000 people

• Seeds and tools to more than 680,000 people and fishing kits to more than 190,000

• Vaccinated more than 780’000 livestock and treated more than 130,000 animals (benefitting 370’000 people)

• Trained and equipped 363 community animal health workers

EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RESILIENCE BUILDING

Humanitarian FocusReconnecting families separated by the conflict

Through• Partnering with the South Sudan Red Cross and

global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, by offering tailored tools and services, and new solutions at local, national or regional levels.

• Capacity building of South Sudan Red Cross branches, staff members and volunteers

EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RESILIENCE BUILDING

Impact• Scattered families reconnect through

Regular access to phone call services:26,000 successful calls since December 2013

Exchange of Red Cross messages

Recognition of relatives through innovative tools such as ICRC’s “Snapshot”

• 80 unaccompanied/vulnerable children and vulnerable adults were reunited with their families in South Sudan or abroad (since the beginning of the crisis)

• South Sudan Red Cross staff members and volunteers trained

EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RESILIENCE BUILDING

Enhancing access to healthcare and comprehensive hospital services and primary health care

Humanitarian FocusWounded and sick in conflict-affected areas to gain access to health care

Through• Hospital support on both sides of conflict• 5 Mobile surgical teams• First aid training for weapon bearers• Support to primary health care structures• Physical Rehabilitation Program • Ad hoc assistance to health structures• Conflict-related sexual violence program • Emergency response to epidemics

Impact (2014)

• 6,500 surgeries in 14 different health structures

• 35’000 outpatients consultations

• 2’600 women provided with antenatal care

• 54 local healthcare structures supported with ad hoc assistance

• 3,500 people with disabilities assisted (3 centers)

• Early intervention reduced cholera cases

Enhancing access to healthcare and comprehensive hospital services and primary health care

Special focus: Health Care in Danger

• Situation analysis and objective • Strategy and levels of intervention

Action and response in the field National level platform and engagement Humanitarian diplomacy

• Working on Solutions – integrated approach Enhance protection of medical staff, facilities,

transport, patients Increase access to healthcare for wounded and

sick persons Mobilize and raise awareness of stakeholders who

influence safe access to healthcare  Build SSRC and other local capacity to prevent and

address violence against medical mission

IMPROVING CONDITIONS OF DETENTION AND TREATMENT OF DETAINEES

Humanitarian FocusPersons held in places of detention by government authorities, armed groups and UNMISS enjoy better conditions of detention and treatment in accordance with relevant internationally recognized legal standards

Through• Regular visits to places of detention as per ICRC standard

working procedures • Representations to relevant authorities to discuss ICRC

observations and recommendations• Information and training sessions on related international

standards• Support and guidance to the medical staff working in places

of detention• Carry out hygiene promotion• Provide material assistance for most urgent needs

Impact• Visited over 9,400 people held in various detention facilities

and improved the living conditions of over 1’000 detainees through rehabilitation works

• Registered and followed up in particular with detainees captured in relation with the ongoing conflict

• Assisted foreign detainees, notifying their embassies

• Helped detainees reconnect with their families

• Supported detaining authorities to contain and limit the spread of cholera in in Torit and Juba prisons.

• Donated bedding material and hygiene items to detaining authorities to improve living conditions for detainees including those particularly vulnerable like juveniles

IMPROVING CONDITIONS OF DETENTION AND TREATMENT OF DETAINEES

IMPROVING THE BEHAVIOUR OF WEAPON BEARERS

Humanitarian FocusWeapon bearers in armed conflict and situations of humanitarian concern must have a better understanding and respect of IHL and other rules.

Through• SPLA+SPLAiO: engagement at all levels

• Strong link between Protection dialogue and Prevention engagement

• Tailored approach considering protection/humanitarian concerns, level of group, cultural/tribal dynamics

Impact

• Over 2,100 members of armed forces and armed groups exposed to IHL/other standards and humanitarian concerns in 2014

• Ongoing programme with SPLA HQ Training Directorate. IHL Desk/Focal Point dedicated to training centres established for the first time

• Intensive training on integrating IHL in military operations: 34 high-ranking government and opposition commanders

• Strengthened dialogue and held first IHL training with National Security officers

IMPROVING THE BEHAVIOUR OF WEAPON BEARERS

Humanitarian FocusViolations perpetrated against the civilian population and other negative effects of the presence and actions of armed forces and groups must be reduced through compliance with IHL and other rules.

ThroughEngaging authorities and alleged perpetrators on their responsibilities related to violations of IHL and other applicable standards through real-time interventions and bilateral confidential representations at local and central levels

IMPROVING THE BEHAVIOUR OF WEAPON BEARERS

Impact

• Concrete instances of the parties to the conflict: taking immediate measures in the field to stop/limit IHL

violations investigating incidents or violations allegedly committed

reminding their troops about IHL rules, in particular, respect of civilians and those no longer taking part in fighting and the strict prohibition to recruit and use children

• Public statements made by parties to the conflict of their commitment to respect IHL and calls for their respective troops to comply

IMPROVING THE BEHAVIOUR OF WEAPON BEARERS

Summary and key messages

• Momentum of suffering will prevail for years. 2.2 mio. displaced, infrastructure destroyed and services non existing

• Access constraints and conditions for safe delivery of humanitarian aid problematic in conflict-affected areas (Unity, Upper Nile)

• Parties have to respect and comply with the provisions of IHL (Geneva Conventions).

• Support of the international community (Art. 1 Common GC / financial support)

• Irish Red Cross contribution