ReliefWeb

2,524
Tree and fruit seedlings distributed to refugees during the reporting period.

42,899
Refugees and IDPs received aid items from UNHCR across South Sudan during the reporting period.

5,929
Refugees reached with hygiene promotion and awareness sessions during the reporting period.

KEY FIGURES

INSIDE SOUTH SUDAN

275,187
Refugees in South Sudan as of 31 July 2017.

2 million
IDPs in South Sudan including 212,720 in UNMISS Protection of Civilian sites.

US $883.5 million
Funding requested by UNHCR for the South Sudan Situation in 2017.

Update on Achievements

Operational Context

■ German Foreign Minister visits South Sudan: The Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, Sigmar Gabriel visited South Sudan on 10 August. In Juba, Mr Gabriel met President Salva Kiir and a number of ministers with whom he discussed issues pertaining to National Dialogue, peace and humanitarian situation in the country. Prior to his arrival in South Sudan, he held meetings with the South Sudanese refugees in Uganda, which hosts the largest number of refugees from South Sudan in the region. The German Foreign Minister urged the South Sudan's leaders to use peaceful means to resolve the ongoing conflict and restore peace and stability across the nation. Germany is one of the major contributors to humanitarian aid provided to South Sudan. Last year Germany provided 3.5 million USD to UNHCR operation in the country.

■ First batch of regional protection force arrives in Juba: The first batch of the regional protection force (RPF) to bolster the 12,000-strong UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) arrived in Juba on 5 August. The first batch includes 150 Rwandan soldiers that will be joined by 100 Bangladeshi engineers to be deployed soon in South Sudan. In August 2016, the United Nations Security Council following the request by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) approved the deployment of a 4,000-strong regional protection force to provide security in Juba key installations, including the airport. It is expected that the RPF forces will strengthen the capacity of the current UNMISS forces to deploy and provide security on the Juba-Bor and Juba-Nimule access roads as well as to establish a UNMISS base in Yei town.

■ The UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations visits South Sudan: On 1 August, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix arrived in the South Sudanese capital of Juba to assess the political situation in the country. Upon his arrival, he met with senior government officials including the First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deng Alor and the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Martin Elia Lomuro, as well as other ministers. Lacroix discussed and assessed the security situation and the political process and how the United Nations can help move that peace process forward. In a statement following his meetings, Lacroix said that South Sudan’s conflict has to end to give the peace process a better chance of success. He also emphasized that there was a shared understanding with the government that actions and initiatives to advance peace are important and that they have to be put in place to accelerate the implementation of the peace agreement and bring sustainable peace to the world's youngest nation. Lacroix highlighted that the peace process could not move forward if fighting continued.