Friday, July 20, 2012

Sudan is Suffering

U.N. will save you:

"South Sudan turns 1, but oil, border issues remain" By Michael Onyiego  |  Associated Press, July 10, 2012

JUBA, South Sudan — Tens of thousands of South Sudanese gathered under a sweltering sun on Monday in the capital, Juba, to celebrate the first birthday of the world’s youngest nation, an event marred by dire economic hardships and a near-constant threat of war.

Dance troupes gave traditional performances and South Sudan’s armed forces put on a parade that featured the country’s fiercest pieces of weaponry: two attack helicopters. The sun was so intense that several soldiers were carried off on stretchers.

President Salva Kiir addressed the country’s number-one threat: a return to war with Sudan, the country the south battled for more than two decades. ‘‘Since our independence, Khartoum has continuously violated our sovereignty through aerial bombardments and ground incursions,’’ he said.  

Yeah, so? Israel does it to Palestinians all the time and no one gives a hoot.

South Sudan’s biggest success in its first year was avoiding all-out war with Sudan. But it came close. A row over the sharing of the countries’ once-unified oil industry prompted South Sudan to shut down its oil production.  

Oh, so that was what was behind the great Bush diplomatic victory. Divide and prosper, 'er, conquer.

Because the south’s oil travels through pipelines that run through Sudan, the decision cut off a major source of Khartoum’s revenue and has led to instability in that capital. But the move cost South Sudan as well. The landlocked nation derives 98 percent of its normal government budget from oil.

Oil also sparked a dangerous military confrontation between the sides in April, when South Sudan captured the disputed town of Heglig, which is responsible for more than half of Sudan’s oil production. The move was met with international condemnation.

That's avoiding a war, huh?

Related: Spinning the Invasion of Sudan 

Can you see why I no longer want to read this agenda-pushing Jewish war s***?

But several of South Sudan’s woes are internal. South Sudan has been beset by ethnic clashes, primarily in Jonglei state, where the United Nations estimates nearly 900 people were killed in brutal cattle raids and reprisal attacks between late December and early February.

Because of the loss of oil revenue, inflation is skyrocketing, leaving average families with less to eat.

So Bush and independence has brought STARVATION to South Sudan?

--more--"

"UN seeks Sudan accord to allow aid" July 16, 2012

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Aid agencies should have access to help internally displaced people fleeing from violence in Sudan and South Sudan, a top United Nations official said Sunday.

The African Union summit called on the neighboring countries to resolve disputes over border and security issues by the Aug. 2 deadline set by the UN Security Council.

‘‘The council calls on the two countries to speedily conclude agreements that would allow for the reopening of the border, facilitate the resumption of trade and support the livelihoods of border communities,’’ said the AU’s Peace and Security Council.

Sudan President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan President Salva Kiir met late Saturday in a closed-door meeting that lasted an hour, according to a senior official in the South Sudanese mission who declined to be named because he was not authorized to discuss the meeting publicly.

Jan Eliason, the UN’s deputy secretary general, said in a speech to the African Union on Sunday that hundreds of thousands of people in Sudan and South Sudan are ‘‘in grave need of assistance.’’

‘‘Aid agencies should have the funds and access they need to assist internally displaced persons and refugees,’’ he said.

--more--"  

And for your photo album:

"FLEEING FLOODS IN SOUTH SUDAN -- Refugees carried their possessions Monday as they abandoned the Jamam refugee camp in South Sudan after flooding surrounded tents there. Up to 16,000 people were being moved to another camp due to the seasonal deluge. The Jamam refugee camp is one of three in the Upper Nile area, housing 107,000 refugees from Sudan, which is 50 miles to the north. Armed conflict between the countries has caused the relocation of many residents (Boston Globe July 17 2012)." 

Purchasing the printed paper has its points.

Sunday Globe Update: 

"Sudan accused of bombing village

JUBA — South Sudan accused Sudan on Saturday of bombing one of its villages just two weeks before a UN-imposed deadline on peace and oil negotiations between the two nations. Military spokesman Colonel Philip Aguer said Sudanese planes bombed the village of Rumaker in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state near the two countries’ border Friday morning. Aguer said two civilians were slightly injured. The Sudanese government rejected the accusation (AP)."