WASHINGTON, DC – SOUTH Sudan is stepping up preparations for a possible Ebola outbreak as health authorities remain concerned about the risk of the virus crossing the border from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says no cases of Ebola have so far been reported or confirmed in South Sudan. However, the continued movement of people across the border with the DRC, where an outbreak is ongoing, has heightened concerns about the potential spread of the virus.
The preparedness efforts are being led by South Sudan's Ministry of Health and National Public Health Institute, with support from the UN and humanitarian partners.
Those measures include increased surveillance, screening at points of entry, preparing health facilities, training health workers, supplying medical equipment and raising public awareness through radio and social media.
South Sudan's Humanitarian Coordinator, Ramathan Balakrishnan, recently visited parts of Central and Western Equatoria to assess the country's readiness to respond to a potential outbreak.
The UN is also stressing the need to protect humanitarian workers operating in border areas, with the call coming after four humanitarian workers were abducted on August 11 by unidentified armed men while transporting critical Ebola supplies to Libogo.
They were later reportedly released.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has been briefed on the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan.
Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said the UN continues to support efforts by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to secure a humanitarian truce.
She said the UN is also working with the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the League of Arab States and the European Union to advance a political solution to the conflict.
The Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, is also increasing his engagement with the parties to the conflict, with a focus on ending hostilities and building trust.
Haavisto is expected to travel to Sudan shortly as part of those efforts.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, who briefed the Council remotely from Istanbul, described the humanitarian situation in Sudan as desperate.
He said more than two-thirds of the country's population is in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance, while stressing the urgent need for civilian protection and de-escalation.
Despite the challenges, humanitarian agencies continue to provide assistance. In July, the World Food Programme reached about 320,000 people across the Kordofan region with food and cash assistance. In North Kordofan, food distributions resumed in El Obeid and surrounding areas following earlier disruptions caused by insecurity and fuel shortages.
By the end of July, more than 58,000 displaced people had received food assistance.
Humanitarian agencies are also providing about two million litres of safe water each day in El Obeid, reaching approximately 133,000 people.
The UN continues to appeal for additional funding, with Sudan's humanitarian response plan only 41 percent funded. About US$1.2 billion has been received against the US$2.9 billion required.
In a separate development, the UN Secretary-General has expressed concern over continued reports of airstrikes in Myanmar, including a reported military strike on a monastery in the Sagaing region on August 21.
The attack reportedly killed at least 14 civilians and injured several others.
