The special envoy to South Sudan peace mediation Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin says the crisis may escalate due to the continued violence/FILE
The special envoy to South Sudan peace mediation Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin says the crisis may escalate due to the continued violence.
He says there is need to provide basic necessities to those affected, while warning of a looming famine.
“The more the delay, the more we continue losing innocent lives,” he cautioned. “It’s a human made crisis… the crop has failed and definitely this has exposed them to famine.”
He expressed optimism of cessation to the hostilities because of the ongoing peace talks between the warring parties but that the progress was slow.
Peace talks between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar stalled in June with each side blaming the other for the failure.
Thousands of people have been killed and over 1.5 million have fled more than seven months of fighting between government troops, mutinous soldiers and ragtag militia forces divided by tribe.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Amina Mohammed said there was hope to peace in the country due to the renewed talks in South Sudan.
She however warned that the situation may get worse if not dealt with expeditiously.
“Apart from the war and its horrible consequences, we also have a famine…we need to take action now and not wait until the situation gets worse,” she said.
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