SOUTH SUDAN
Security
The security situation in and around Juba remained calm. The prospect of free access to Juba from the Nimule and Torit roads remains uncertain due to reported activity by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the Nimule area and Torit road. The security situation in Rumbek and the region also remained stable. In Rumbek, SPLM/A beefed up security in the area as the date for the formation of the Government of National Unity set for 9 July draws near. Eastern Equatoria was reported as being stable in and around Nimule, Parajok and Labone. Restrictions designed to deter and mitigate the impact of LRA activity remain in place. Western Equatoria was reported as being stable. In Bahr El Ghazal and Lakes, heavy rainfall affected roads and airstrips, but the security situation remained calm. Western Upper Nile remained stable with no reported incidents. In Central Upper Nile, Keew remained at UN Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) security level 4 (1). In Eastern Upper Nile and Shilluk Kingdom, Yuai and Pulturuk remained at level 4 following warnings from the SPLM/A that the situation (as to who is in control) in these two locations had become unclear. Nuba Mountains remained stable. In Southern Blue Nile, Bawac remained at level 4.
Development of new government
The national constitutional review committee will be meeting in Rumbek for the ratification of the interim constitution of the Government of National Unity. The Secretariat of Finance and the Bank of South Sudan are also meeting in Rumbek for define the budget for all government and states departments and institutions.
Along with other UN agencies and NGOs operating in greater Equatoria, UNHCR Juba took part in the Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SRRC) - Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) Crossline mission to Juba on 20 June. The high-ranking delegates of the humanitarian wings of SPLM/A and the Government visited Juba to assess the situation of HAC in the South, find ways to merge the two entities and work together with UN agencies and NGOs during the interim period. UNHCR also participated in the inter-agency contingency plan exercise, in view of a potential void being created by the formation of the new government and the transition of power from the Government of Sudan.
Quick profiling exercise of "returnee students"
Since the beginning of the school year, Juba has been receiving returnee students for primary and secondary school from neighbouring countries (mainly Uganda) and SPLM/A-controlled areas. So far, some 1,600 "returnee students" have been registered by HAC and the Ministry of Education. These students have been enrolled in two English schools - Buluk A primary school and Juba Day secondary school. However, the capacity of the schools is stretched in terms of space and number of teachers who are able to teach in English (as of 28 June, Juba Day secondary school had enrolled 558 new returnees, bringing the total number of students in the school to 1,158). In May, the Ministry of Education, UNICEF and UNHCR set up a Task Force, which includes some NGOs, to deal with the issue of returnee students. The profiling of these returnees, especially from SPLM/A-controlled areas, has not resulted in clear information about them because the HAC registration form is limited. Reportedly, there are some students who are not originally from Juba but came to the city from SPLM/A-controlled areas to study in Juba. Thus, the Task Force has developed a quick profiling form in order to gain more information about the students. A quick profiling exercise will start on 4 July in both primary and secondary school. One hundred students will be randomly selected. UNHCR has also conducted interviews of the returnee students from Uganda and the results shows that they, including refugee camp residents and urban settlers, have returned to Sudan from Uganda due to their inability to pay tuition for secondary school. For single secondary school returnee students, HAC has requested WFP to provide food (6 months ration) to ease the burden on hosting communities. For primary school returnee students, food assistance is provided by the WFP school feeding programme.
Footnote:
(1) The whole SPLM/A-controlled area is under UN security phase 3, i.e. Relocation. Local OLS security levels within this phase are as follows:
Level 1 (Normal Operational Situation): restful, calm, peaceful, etc. This level does not exist in southern Sudan at the moment.
Level 2 (Medium Operational Situation): radio contact with Lokichoggio base camp twice a day, travel outside of location is restricted to daylight hours, close contact with counterparts (SRRC), normal passenger and cargo flights.
Level 3 (Tense Operational Situation): radio contact with Lokichoggio three times per day, no travel outside of location, essential staff only, equipment ready for handover to counterparts, passenger and cargo flights restricted.
Level 4 (Evacuation/Relocation): continuous radio contact with Lokichoggio, remain with counterparts, no travel outside of camp except for rapid evacuation.
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