| Hi jay, I have some breaking news you might not have heard. In the last hour, a ceasefire has been signed in South Sudan by government and rebel forces. This week's update is dedicated to the emergency situation in South Sudan. In the next update, we'll return with updates from other ARC programs around the world. Let us know if you have any questions. -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President *********************************************** *Conflict in South Sudan* NEWS UPDATE: After a month of violence, South Sudan’s government and rebel forces have just signed a ceasefire. Throughout the region and around the world people are hoping this agreement puts a lasting end to the violence. The Violence The crisis began as a political dispute between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar. It quickly spun out of control and escalated into a full-scale conflict devastating much of the world’s newest country. Ethnic killings and other atrocities have been reported. At least 1,000 people have died since the middle of December, and some sources suggest that number is nearer to 10,000. The People Since violence began, more than 500,000 people have fled their homes. Many traveled to safer areas of the country while nearly 100,000 have crossed international borders as refugees (most to neighboring Uganda). It’s estimated that due to insecurity humanitarian organizations have so far been able to reach less than half of those in need of assistance as a result of the conflict. As violence tends to do, families have been split up by the fighting. Children have lost their parents, separated as they’ve fled the violence. Some children have arrived at refugee camps unaccompanied, while other children have been forcibly recruited to fight. ARC Responding In Sudan: Early this week, ARC began returning members of our international staff to Juba, South Sudan’s capital. At the height of the violence, we were forced to evacuate our international staff from Juba. However our field offices were able to continue providing communities with critical services, although at a diminished capacity. With our international staff back in the country, we are returning to full strength by replenishing our field offices with relief supplies, lifesaving medicines and more. Our team is collaborating with partner organizations to help people inside South Sudan who’ve been affected by the violence. In Uganda: Meanwhile, our team is also mobilizing to help South Sudanese who fled to Uganda – particularly vulnerable groups like children separated from their parents and female-headed households. South Sudanese refugees are likely to stay in Uganda for at least several weeks until they are convinced it is safe to return home. They need shelter, emergency food rations and medicine, counseling to begin to process what they’ve experienced, and protection to prevent any further violence against women and children. Here’s the latest news from South Sudan: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25864164
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