Good evening. It’s 5:00pm and this is Radio Miraya news with Agole Alex.
The Headlines:
- IGAD mediated peace talks put on hold as women sound fresh calls for peace
- Estimated 46,000 children in South Sudan at risk of malnutrition
- Floods affect more than 400 households in Juba
The IGAD mediated peace talks between the government and the SPLA in opposition have been put on hold.
This comes a day after the SPLA in opposition delegation failed to attend the second day of peace talks aimed at ending seven months of conflict.
The government spokesperson, Michael Makuei, says the government delegation is committed to engage the SPLA- in Opposition in bi-lateral negotiations.
Micheal Makuei: “What we know is that they may have found some difficulties in continuing with the talks on a multi-lateral or bilateral basis and they decided to change their mind and opted for the bilateral.”
James Gadet, spokesperson of the leader of the SPLA in opposition, Dr Riek Machar says the opposition team is ready to negotiate a political settlement to reach a peace agreement.
James Gadet: “Even within a week, we are ready to do so, so we have a position ready which we want to present to the mediation and negotiate with the other party which is the government and if they are willing to talk in good faith then we can reach a political settlement and a peace agreement.”
It is not yet clear when the talks will resume.
Meanwhile, the women of South Sudan are once again sounding fresh calls on the government and the opposition to end the war and bring peace to South Sudan.
Addressing a news conference in Juba today, Angelina Boi, a member of the South Sudan Women Platform for Peace said the women have a message addressed specifically to President Salva Kiir and leader of the SPLA- in Opposition, Dr
Riek Machar.
Boi says the women of South Sudan are asking the two leaders to be serious and negotiate peace for the country.
Angelina Boi: “We respectfully call on you to take the upper hand to cease fire and commit to dialogue and bring lasting peace to South Sudan. Stop the violence so that our children go back to school. Stop the war to allow the IDPs go home and live with dignity. Stop the war to ensure the refugees come back home. Stop the war to give a way for all South Sudanese to regain their identity and dignity. Stop the war such that we can build and develop our precious country.”
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that 46,000 children in South Sudan are at risk of severe malnutrition.
The Global Malnutrition Cluster Coordinator based in Geneva, Josephine Ippe, says UN humanitarian agencies need to step up their efforts to reach out to those worst affected by malnutrition.
Josephine Ippe: “The acute malnutrition rate is high but there areas which are more less in the border line so the message here is about us collectively the humanitarian community getting together to scale up the program so that we prevent further deterioration the conflict presents a huge challenge there are areas that we cannot go and this why we need cooperation of everybody involved to insure that we have access to these populations affected regardless of where they belong.”
Humanitarian agencies are looking for more than 400 Million dollars to support the humanitarian situation in the country.
In another development, the Government of Japan has contributed one point five million dollars to support the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) emergency operations in South Sudan.
George Forminyen, WFP Communications Officer, says the money will be used to provide food and nutrition support for the most vulnerable populations in the country.
George Forminyen: “We estimate that some 235,000 children under the age of five will require treatment for severe acute malnutrition this year, twice as many as last year and the situation is quite dire and quite difficult particularly in the mainly conflict affected states of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile.”
The conflict in South Sudan has displaced an estimated 1.5 million people from their homes and more than 1.1 million of these are children.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management says at least 450 households have been affected by the worst rains in Juba.
The extent of the devastation became apparent as waters receded in Lemon Gaba area of Juba and Jopa, to reveal homes submerged in water.
Alison Barnaba, the Director for Emergency in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs says an assessment has been done and a report will be delivered to the policy makers soon.
Alison Barnaba: “Our Undersecretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs will take it to the decision makers. This entire program is done with initiative from our President Salva Kiir Mayardit who instructed us to make this assessment jointly together with all our partners where we will come today for the final decision where will discuss what is going to be done because our SPLA Engineering Division has already prepared themselves to open the canals and the ways for the water to pass through.”
Barnaba is appealing for support to help the displaced people in the affected areas in Juba.
An estimated 700 people have been displaced from their homes in Kozoro Village of Mundri West County in Western Equatoria State after cattle keepers raided the village on Tuesday.
Majority of the displaced women and children have taken refuge in the neighboring villages.
Mundri West County commissioner, Lexon Maburuk, says gunshots could be heard in Kozoro village this morning.
Laxon Maburuk: “Cattle keepers have taken the village of Kozoro. Now they are the ones enjoying the pumpkins, cassava and so on in that village. 720 individuals reported they were displaced from Kozoro and they took refuge to Biti Boma and most of them are women and children. We don’t how many people are displaced in Kulundu and Lakamadi and in Amadi. The community reported that there is shooting of guns in the village where they deserted.”
The Speaker Western Equatoria State Legislative Assembly, Bage James, has condemned the violent destruction of farms caused by the cattle keepers.
He is calling for a peaceful resolution to the growing tensions between the farmers and the cattle keepers.
Authorities in Jonglei State are refuting reports about a cholera outbreak in some parts of the state.
Last week, a team of health workers from Doctors without borders and the National Health Ministry travelled to Jonglei state, following reports of a possible cholera outbreak in the state.
Angok Gordon Kuol, Jonglei State Minister of Health and Environment explain the team found out that most people in Boma county and Mewun Payam are suffering from malnutrition, malaria and watery diarrhea but not cholera.
Angok Gordon Kuol: “The team went in and a small test was done on site in Mewun, it found a section of the population is sick they took blood tests of malaria of children and found in that location , almost 90 percent of the children in that area were positive for malaria, population is also malnourished so in general population in general is very malnourished and poor.”
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Upper Nile University will relocate to Juba for one year, the Academic Registrar Upper Nile State University, Wani Anthony Cisto, has said.
The academic registrar says that the University will operate in Juba for one year.
Wani Anthony Cisto: “After this second semester the results will be process it will be displayed to the students. And then those students who have supplementary or substitutes, they’ll go for that exams and then from there we’ll think of when to open the university for the new academic year. Btu surely we are going to open it here in Juba because the government has given us a green light that Upper Nile University because of this crisis will be relocated to Juba town for a period of one year. Possibly at the end of this year or early next year.”
Meanwhile, Students of Upper Nile University are currently sitting their exams in three centers, of Juba, Wau and Khartoum.
These students in Juba said they are happy to be given an opportunity to seat these exams.
Students Vox Pops
- “Yeah, I feel so much excited with the exams. Much as there are some challenges but the exams are fine. We are struggling that to see that at least that we finish this semester. Then we hope that if the university is going to continue here then it is going to be much better then when it is in Malakal at the moment.”
- “Yeah, extremely happy of the examinations. What we were crying for mostly was to finish the examinations what made us in dilemma is only that when will it open, it will be from the administration.”
In foreign news, global health experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) are meeting to discuss new measures to tackle the Ebola outbreak.
According to the BBC, The meeting is expected to last two days and will decide whether to declare a global health emergency.
On Wednesday, a man suspected to have contracted Ebola died in Saudi Arabia. If confirmed, this will be the first Ebola-related death outside of Africa.
The virus has killed nearly 900 people since February in West Africa.
And in sports, several matches were played around the country last evening in the ongoing division one football tournaments.
Samuel Pawon has more
Samuel Pawon: “Latest results on Miraya sports news show Nassir FC emerged victor after beating Hilal FC by three goals to one.The match played at juba football stadium on Tuesday evening puts Nassir FC in the third position with 17 points, while Hilal FC has 14 points.In Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Salam FC defeated Muderia team by two goals to nil in a game played at Awiel freedom Square.Gazala FC beat Eagle team by two goals to nil in Kuajok Warrap state.This evening Juba Rainbow FC is takes on Malekia FC, and, Aweil stars will play against Hituch FC, and in Warrap, Kuajok city takes on Hilal FC.Samuel Pawon reporting for Radio Miraya News.”
To end the news, the main stories once again:
- IGAD mediated peace talks put on hold as women sound fresh calls for peace
- Estimated 46,000 children in South Sudan at risk of malnutrition
- Floods affect more than 400 households in Juba
You have been listening to Radio Miraya news. To let us know about the latest news where you live, contact us at; . I am Agole Alex. Thanksfor listening.
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