An international organization is calling for urgent action to avoid escalation into a humanitarian disaster in Southern Sudan through conflict management and development.
A new report from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) says that in 2009, conflict and violence displaced over 390 000 people in Southern Sudan, while 2500 were killed.It adds that the humanitarian situation in the autonomous region is set to deteriorate further during 2010, due to continued conflict, drought and food insecurity.
In the report NRC outlines tree priority areas for urgent action from the international community, donors, Sudanese authorities, the UN and humanitarian organizations.
It urges the addressing of key challenges related to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to ensure progress in the peace process and no return to war.
It asks for the strengthening of conflict resolution to handle land, water and grazing rights issues while providing increased basic services and infrastructure development.
Finally, it advocates boosting emergency response capacities, particularly in areas vulnerable to inter-ethnic tensions, drought, food insecurity and displacement to face the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.