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UN Highlights Urgent Needs in Northeast Syria and South Sudan Amidst Ongoing Humanitarian Crises

The Independent International Commission has called for the immediate release of Yazidi genocide survivors and individuals detained due to their alleged connections to ISIL in northeast Syria. This urgent request highlights the plight of women and children who are currently languishing in detention with their former captors, enduring inhumane conditions. The Commission emphasized the need for the international community to support these individuals in their recovery and quest for justice, rather than allowing the trauma they have endured to continue unchecked.

Commissioner Lynn Welchman remarked on the appalling situation, stating, “Captured Yazidi women, girls, and boys, survivors and victims of ISIL’s crimes, are still held alongside their persecutors in degrading circumstances today.” The Commission’s report underscores the pressing responsibility of the global community to extend meaningful assistance aimed at healing these individuals and delivering accountability for the crimes they faced.

Continued Detention of Thousands

Currently, approximately 44,000 women and children remain confined in camps in northeast Syria, with around 27,000 being minors. A significant portion, about two-thirds, are foreign nationals hailing from Iraq and over 60 other countries. The Commission has pointed out that these individuals are “detained indefinitely,” a situation that raises serious concerns about their future and well-being.

The Commission has also documented the heinous acts committed by ISIL since August 3, 2014, when the group launched a brutal offensive against the Yazidi population in Sinjar, Iraq. This assault included mass killings, forced conversions, enslavement, and sexual violence. Following ISIL’s territorial defeat in March 2019, many individuals presumed to be relatives of ISIL fighters, along with the enslaved Yazidi women and girls, were captured and detained.

Commissioner Hanny Megally emphasized that Yazidis must be granted genuine choices regarding their future, whether that involves returning to Iraq, reuniting with family, or settling in third-party nations. He urged member states to facilitate these options to restore their agency.

Increased Abductions in South Sudan

In a separate development, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) expressed serious concern regarding a spike in abductions in the greater Yei area of Central Equatoria state. Reports indicate that armed factions, particularly the National Salvation Front (NAS), are responsible for these incidents, which are concentrated in the Yei River, Morobo, and Lainya counties.

Recent reports to UNMISS detailed around 12 abduction cases involving 134 individuals, including six children. The mission highlighted the risks these children face, such as potential recruitment into armed conflict, exposure to sexual violence, trafficking, and other forms of exploitation.

UNMISS Head Nicholas Haysom called for the unconditional release of all hostages, urging the South Sudanese government to conduct swift investigations and remind all involved parties of their human rights obligations. He further advocated for a unified approach among stakeholders, including the government, to strengthen preventative measures against these abductions and ensure accountability for those responsible.

Stability in Global Food Prices Shows Mixed Trends

In the realm of global food security, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that the global food price index remained relatively stable in July. This stability emerged despite rises in vegetable oils, meat, and sugar prices, which balanced out declines in cereal prices.

The FAO’s Food Price Index stood at an average of 120.8 points for July, a slight decrease from the revised 121.0 figure recorded in June. Notably, the index reflected a 3.1 percent drop compared to the same month last year. The index serves as a crucial measure, tracking fluctuations in the international prices of widely traded food commodities.

Cereal Prices Decline Amid Demand for Oils

The FAO Cereal Price Index dropped by 3.8 percent from June, as export prices for major cereals fell for the second consecutive month. Factors contributing to the decrease include an increase in wheat availability due to favorable harvest conditions in Canada and the United States, as well as progressing maize harvests in Argentina, Brazil, and robust crop performance in the U.S.

On the other hand, the Vegetable Oil Price Index saw a 2.4 percent increase, driven by heightened demand for soy oil in the biofuel sector and unfavorable crop forecasts for sunflower and rapeseed oils. The Meat Price Index also rose by 1.2 percent, attributed to strong import demand despite a minor decline in pig meat prices. Additionally, the Sugar Price Index experienced a rise of 0.7 percent, influenced by production shortfalls in Brazil.

Source
news.un.org