In response to renewed violence in South Sudan on the fifth anniversary of the country's independence, Oxfam calls for an end to the fighting and for all parties to allow humanitarian access to people affected:
Zlatko Gegic, Oxfam Country Director in South Sudan, said: “This was meant to be the South Sudan’s fifth birthday – I cannot think of a more horrendous gift: more fighting, loss of lives, more displacement and less hope. It is the people of South Sudan who are bearing the brunt of this violence yet again. We saw it in Wau last week, and we are seeing it now in Juba – hundreds killed and thousands of people forced to leave their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs, seeking refuge wherever they find it.”
“We urge all parties to stop fighting now, respect humanitarian principles and ensure access to those South Sudanese affected by this fighting. And we call on the international community to prevent a further escalation of tensions, and seek a lasting political solution to this crisis.”
