The 2021 unprecedented attacks on the humanitarian agencies by frustrated unemployed youth in the country over unfair jobs allocation claims are yet to be contained.
Several attacks on aid workers are still being reported in some parts of the country, but the adverse effect exacerbated by the already dire humanitarian situation has resulted in food insecurity as floods pushed thousands more people into crises in areas where relief agencies had been evacuated.
According to the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General to South Sudan Nicholas Haysom, the unemployment caused by the lack of fair labour practices in the country should be addressed.
“I must say that, as far as the UN is concerned, we ensure that we have very high percentages of recruitment from locals in the areas in which we work-about 80 per cent. We think, while on the one hand, we need to address the question of fair labour practices,” said Mr Haysom.
“If that is an issue, the youth also need to recognize the importance of the humanitarian community which, in this country, more than almost any other country, plays a significant role in making up for the failure of government to supply goods and services, vital humanitarian supplies, particularly food to the population.”
This year, disgruntled youth in some parts of the country particularly Maban, Bentiu, Torit, and Pibor attacked aid workers for alleged unfair employment opportunities of nationals.
In Pibor, the humanitarian situation deteriorated after NGOs evacuated from the area due to mounting pressure from disgruntled young people, prompting the Information Minster, Jay Adangor to appeal to NGOs to revoke their decision.
“People are suffering, people are dying because of lack of medication and those who are depending on humanitarians for food are in a dire situation.”
“No health facility that is operating now in Pibor town or other areas outside the town. [This now] means all the people who ate depending on organizations for such help are not getting treatment and they are depending on herbs,” said Adangor in September.
But, according to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Peter Mayen, the organizations acted independently without consultation with the relevant government authorities on issues of recruitment.
The blame
“So once they solicit funds from donors, they go ahead and implement their projects without coming to the ministry or without the opinion of the ministry [on] which areas they should carry out activities, whether nutrition, health or any other developmental projects,”
“So, it is very unique when others are asking the humanitarian partners to leave the areas while there are those who are calling for the humanitarian actors to come and deliver the services. We have to review the policies together with the NGOs forum in terms of areas of operations,” said Mayen in October.
Activist
The actions by the youth across different parts of the country have been condemned by the then Okay Africa Foundation Executive Director, Wani Michael.
“We’ve turned against each other because of NGOs jobs instead of asking our government the hardest questions, where are the jobs? Where’s the youth fund to empower us to economically sustain ourselves?”
“Where is the peace and security to boost economic and private sector development in the country to create and accelerate opportunities for us? Activist Wani Michael, former Executive Director of Okay Africa said in June this year.
Pending issues
Several efforts by the government and humanitarian partners to resolve the matter seemed to have yielded no fruit as the UN Boss invoked the occurrence in his Wednesday’s address.
“I think with regards to the engagement with youth, our experience is of a particular volatility and anger on the part of the youth community, some of it directed at humanitarians and NGOs.”
“We would reply that it reflects a high level of frustration at the economic conditions in the country, the political and economic marginalization of the youth, and the need to give special attention to engaging youth, consulting of the youth, hearing the voices of the youth as we go forward and properly understanding their aspirations for the future,” said Haysom.
Though there has been a significant decrease in the unemployed rate from 12.50 % in 2021 down from 18.95 % in 2019 among the youth aged 15-24 – the majority of South Sudan, constituting over 75 %, illiterate has continued to hamper employment of many.
According to Mr Haysom, the youth should strike the balance between violent demand for employment and the need plight of thousands of vulnerable people who rely on humanitarian assistance across the country.
“But we‘ve also drawn a line at the fact that attacks on humanitarian are not a constructive way forward. Humanitarians working in South Sudan are working in what is often referred to as the most dangerous place for humanitarians anywhere in the world. We think there are constructive ways of engaging with the demands of the youth,” said Haysom.