Today, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on Africa, took to the House Floor in support of H. Res. 187:
Last August, my staff director Greg Simpkins and I visited Juba, South Sudan, to press President Salva Kiir, his Vice President, the Minister of Defense, and five of his top generals, to end the civil war, protect innocent lives and reverse the conditions causing rampant disease and severe malnutrition that could soon lead to a famine.
Just two months ago, famine was formally declared in South Sudan.
I especially asked President Kiir to personally intervene to issue and enforce an executive order of zero-tolerance on rape and sexual abuse by his soldiers and security personnel against mostly humanitarian aid workers and civilians.
On March 28th, I chaired a hearing on famine and the growing crisis in South Sudan and other nations in the region.
Matt Nims, the Acting Director of the US Food for Peace Office, testified “that for three years, the international community has employed massive efforts to stave off famine in South Sudan. Yet as conflict intensified, the food security situation continued to deteriorate…This is a man-made crisis and the direct consequence of prolonged conflict.”
Ken Isaacs, Vice President of Samaritan’s Purse, testified “The most significant driver of the current crisis in the worst hit areas of South Sudan, however, is the political insecurity and brutal conflict that continues to engulf the region. In South Sudan alone, 1.85 million people have been internally displaced…because of this, many people are calling this a manmade famine, and it is hard to argue with that assessment.”
Today, the United Nations reports that two-thirds of South Sudan’s population requires humanitarian assistance, and almost 5 million people – more than 40 percent of the population – are in urgent need of food, agriculture and nutritional assistance.
The Government of South Sudan and the rebels they face are more interested in winning and holding territory than in finding ways to feed their people and allow humanitarian access.
Two months ago there were 70 humanitarian access incidents reported, causing suspension of operations in multiple locations as aid workers had to be relocated. Aid workers are being targeted in South Sudan, where 8 Samaritan’s Purse workers were kidnapped and later released in February, and six African aid workers in South Sudan were killed in March.
Stephen O’Brien from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs accused the South Sudan government of blocking foods and restricting UN peacekeepers from protecting civilians. He described active hostility, access denials and bureaucratic impediments to humanitarian organizations serving the beleaguered population of South Sudan. The man-made famine in South Sudan has driven 1.7 million people into neighboring countries. Uganda alone has sheltered more than 800,000 South Sudanese.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support H. Res. 187, which calls for the U.S. government to work with other donors to accelerate the disbursement of promised aid and urges the Government of South Sudan and its rebel opponents to cease hostilities immediately to allow their citizens to receive the food and medical care they so desperately need.
One million South Sudanese children are suffering from malnutrition today, and more than 17,000 children are being pressed into service as child soldiers. South Sudan’s youth is at grave risk; we must act now to save that country’s future.