WASHINGTON, D.C. — With 42 cosponsors, H.Res. 187 is a simple resolution that reinforces the need to respond to the conflict in South Sudan. South Sudan is one of the least developed regions on Earth, despite being rich in oil, following decades of civil war.
Famine in South Sudan is a result of violent conflict which broke out in 2013. According to CNN, armed groups “are looting villages, murdering civilians, and forcibly recruiting young men and boys into their ranks.” Of the 60,000 people who have fled the country recently, 52,000 have made their way into Uganda. Refugees arrive tired and hungry, suffering from malnutrition, which has increased in the past months. Troops blocking the roads in South Sudan restrict people from fleeing.
H.Res. 187 calls for the Sudanese Government to allow humanitarian aid to be received in the affected areas of the country. The bill specifically outlines that atrocities must be acknowledged in order to be able to effectively distribute aid to combat the famine in South Sudan. The United Nations has reported that 4.9 million people — 40 percent of the population — require food and nutritional assistance.
H.Res. 187 would seek to combine the efforts of various countries in order to maintain consistent support of the East African Region through humanitarian assistance. The government has been reluctant to acknowledge the situation within its borders. Famine in South Sudan is a man-made crisis, and this resolution provides urgency for humanitarian aid.
H.Res. 187 calls for USAID to make it a priority to respond to the famine in South Sudan, in order to alleviate the impact of violence. Along with those efforts, the Sudanese government must allow humanitarian aid by providing transparency when it comes to talking about recent conflicts. H.Res. 187 outlines the plan to effectively distribute resources to the desperate people of South Sudan.
– Nick Katsos
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