MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the humanitarian situation in South Sudan
5.11.2014 - (2014/2922(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Mark Demesmaeker, Nirj Deva, Charles Tannock, Jan Zahradil on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0213/2014
B8‑0214/2014
European Parliament resolution on the humanitarian situation in South Sudan
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Sudan and South Sudan, in particular that of 16 January 2014 on the situation in South Sudan[1],
– having regard to the Council conclusions of 20 October 2014 on the ongoing conflicts in Sudan,
– having regard to the OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) Situation Report No 59, as of 23 October 2014, on the South Sudan crisis,
– having regard to the OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) Situation Report as of 15 July 2014,
– having regard to the press statement issued on behalf of the African Union by the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, on 4 January 2014,
– having regard to the revised Cotonou Agreement,
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
– having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,
– having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Republic of South Sudan is the world’s most fragile state and one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries (despite its potential oil wealth), with 50 % of its population living below the poverty line, the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, one of the highest infant mortality rates, illiteracy at around 75 %, and only one third of the population having access to clean water; whereas food insecurity is a threat to over one million people each year;
B. whereas, since the outbreak of civil war in December 2013, more than 1.7 million people have fled their homes, including 450 000 who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries;
C. whereas South Sudan is currently facing the world’s most alarming food security crisis, which is affecting up to 7 million people, 3.9 million of whom are suffering severe food insecurity, a situation that could potentially lead to famine in 2015;
D. whereas the United Nations has declared the situation in South Sudan a level 3 emergency, the worst level of humanitarian crisis, and whereas the country ranks second in ECHO’s Global Vulnerability and Crisis Assessment Final Index, after the Central African Republic;
E. whereas the situation of children is particularly alarming; whereas, in a country where nearly half of the population are under 15 years of age, they are the most vulnerable group and are often targeted as potential military manpower;
F. whereas the principal humanitarian needs include food, clean water, health care, sanitation, shelter and protection;
G. whereas 2.4 million people in South Sudan have been provided with humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the crisis; whereas the EU – its Members States and the Commission – has so far provided assistance worth over EUR 245 million in 2014;
H. whereas humanitarian aid is delivered in extremely challenging circumstances, in which hostilities and attacks against humanitarian workers and denials of access by the authorities seriously constrain access to those in need;
I. whereas fighting is expected to intensify during the coming dry season, forcing more people to flee their homes;
1. Calls on the international community to honour its funding commitments to South Sudan and the region and to mobilise resources in order to respond immediately to the critical humanitarian situation in South Sudan;
2. Strongly condemns the resumption of hostilities in South Sudan, attributed to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO);
3. Expresses its deep concern at the fact that the ongoing civil war and ethnic violence are having serious humanitarian, security, political, economic and social consequences in a country that is already fragile and volatile, and could destabilise the whole East African region; is especially worried about the ethnic dimension of the conflict; stresses that seeking power by violence or division along ethnic lines is contrary to the democratic rule of law;
4. Urges both parties to implement the peace agreement signed in Addis Ababa in May 2014, which paves the way for a permanent ceasefire, followed by the formation of a transitional government to prepare the new constitution and organise democratic elections;
5. Welcomes the efforts of the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to promote inclusive dialogue and mediation; calls on the EU to continue assisting the IGAD both in substantive and financial terms and contributing staff to the ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism;
6. Calls for long-term solutions based on nation-building processes, such as the creation of a civil service, a functional administration and infrastructure, which are the attributes of a modern state, together with the rule of law, good governance and transparency;
7. Calls on all neighbours of South Sudan and regional powers to work closely together in order to improve the security situation in the country and the region and to find a way towards a peaceful, lasting political solution to the current crisis; stresses that cooperation with Sudan in particular would represent an improvement in ties; considers that the resolution of issues such as those relating to debt sharing and oil revenues is essential if military conflicts are to be avoided in the future;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government of South Sudan, the Human Rights Commissioner of South Sudan, the National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan, the African Union institutions, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the UN Secretary-General.
- [1] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0042.