Women carry sacks of food in Nimini village, Unity State, in northern South Sudan, on Feb. 8, 2017. (Photo: Siegfried Modola/Reuters)
The world’s youngest country turns six on Sunday, as six million South Sudanese people ― more than half the ailing nation’s population ― grapple with extreme food insecurity. Conflict and devastating resource shortages have displaced four million residents ― the majority of whom are children.
Two years after South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, President Salva Kiir accused his former vice president of plotting a coup against his regime, triggering political violence that quickly consumed the infant nation. A peace deal collapsed last year, and the crisis deteriorated.
Clashes between warring rebel and government forces have expanded into a feud between ethnic groups. The unrest, exacerbated by high-level corruption, is also disrupting farming activity and causing major damage to South Sudan’s vital agriculture industry.
South Sudan’s mass displacement has created the fastest-growing refugee crisis in the world. Almost two million people have fled the country, including nearly one million who have crossed into neighboring Uganda, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. Another two million are internally displaced.
Sunday’s anniversary bears “little reason to celebrate,” said Rehana Zawar, South Sudan country director for the NRC. “SouthSudan’s Independence Day is overshadowed by conflict and an unprecedented food crisis,” she added, warning the country “will likely face a new famine on a greater scale in the coming year if relevant support is not provided.”
In February, the government declared famine in two regions ― the world’s first such declaration since 2012. Targeted humanitarian assistance has improved the situation, but aid is still urgently needed.
Duor Jany, 11, seriously affected with cholera, lays on a bed, at a clinic in Lankien, Jonglei, South Sudan on July 5, 2017. (Photo: ALBERT GONZALEZ FARRAN via Getty Images)
South Sudan is also dealing with the worst outbreak of cholera. There have been more than 10,000 infections to date, including thousands of child victims. The disease has killed about 250 people since the first case was reported last June.
Millions of boys and girls in the country are enduring “unthinkable hardships” as the crisis rages on, said Mahimbo Mdoe, a SouthSudan representative for the United Nations’ international child welfare agency.
UNICEF data reveals that more than two million South Sudanese youths are not in school ― the world’s highest proportion of children out of school. Just 30 percent receive an education, and more than one-third of all school buildings have been attacked by armed groups.
Over 17,000 kids have been recruited to serve as soldiers, and hundreds have been raped or sexually assaulted, UNICEF reports. More than one million are acutely malnourished.
“A country’s independence day should be celebrated. However, today in SouthSudan, there will be no celebration for the millions of children caught up in this conflict,” said Mdoe, noting that at least 2,500 have been killed or injured since the conflict erupted. “The numbers are staggering and yet each represents the ongoing misery of a child.”
To support crisis-afflicted children in South Sudan, you can visit UNICEF’s donation page.
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Michael T., 42, and his three children wait to be relocated from the Ocea Reception Centre to the Bidi Bidi refugee settlement. "I was in Juba with my family on July 7. At around 10 a.m., we heard gunshots. People got confused. Everyone started running around, looking for shelter. My wife and oldest son were caught in the middle of gunfire. I lost them. My wife and my son." Location: Ocea Reception Centre, Nov. 4, 2016.
"We escaped. But we are not in peace. We think of the lives of those left behind. We think of family and friends who cannot leave the villages." Joy M. is 28 years old. She came alone with her daughter across the border. Her husband is still stranded in Yei. "In July, I had to bring my daughter to my sister who is married in Uganda, so that my daughter can stay in safety. In August, I had to run, too." Joy describes being stopped by Dinka soldiers along the journey to the border, as she was traveling in a car with other people. "The Dinka men stopped the car and asked us to get out. They would not allow us to leave. We had to abandon the car and hide on the bush." Joy made the rest of the journey on foot. "My husband is still in Yei. He can't move anywhere. I don't know when I will see him again. We are tired of this war. I think of my daughter. What future she will have in our country?" Location: Ocea Reception Centre, Nov. 4, 2016.
According to UNHCR, the portion of women and children among the new arrivals continues to be more than 90 percent. The majority are from Eastern Equatoria, with smaller numbers from Juba. Location: Nyumazi Refugee Settlement, Oct. 28, 2016.
Newly arrived women and children refugees boarding a UNHCR bus at Elegu Collection Point, near the Nimule border -- one of the major entry points into South Sudan. From border entry points, the new arrivals are transported to established transit centers, before being transferred to nearby refugee settlements. Location: Elegu Collection Point, Oct. 27, 2016.
A group of women stand in the rain waiting to be registered and to receive their refugee status at Kuluba Collection Point. Location: Kuluba Collection Point, Nov. 1, 2016.
Many of those able to make the journey arrive in a worrying state of health after walking for days or weeks, often with no access to food and clean water, requiring immediate humanitarian assistance and medical attention. Location: Yoyo Health Centre, Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, Nov. 2, 2016.
Uganda has adopted a pioneering approach to refugee management and protection, integrating refugees within local host communities. Refugees are provided with land on which they are allowed to build new homes and grow crops, in an attempt to reduce their dependency on humanitarian aid. Refugees also have the right to work. Location Pagirinya Refugee Settlement, Oct. 29, 2016.
"We had a case of a 9-year-old boy who was traveling alone with his 2-year-old brother and had to bury him because he died along the journey," said a Medical Teams International health worker at Elegu Collection Point. Location: Pagirinya Refugee Settlement, Oct. 29, 2016.
Staff from Medical Teams International is providing basic health care, ensuring all children are properly immunized, and screening for any signs of malnutrition. All of the work is done at reception centers and settlements. Location: Pagirinya Health Centre, Oct. 29, 2016.
A young mother and her child on arrival at Kuluba Collection Point, near the border with South Sudan. "We walked through the bush for four days. My father is still in the village. He is too old to make the journey on foot," said Sarah A. Location: Kuluba Collection Point, Nov. 1, 2016.
At Elegu Collection Point, a family of refugees carries their luggage for relocation to Bidi Bidi settlement. Location: Elegu Collection Point, Oct. 27, 2016.
In the settlements, UNHCR together with the Office of The Prime Minister and World Food Programme work together to provide shelter, emergency relief items and food. Location: Ocea Reception Centre, Nov. 4, 2016.
A South Sudan refugee child is immunized and screened by a Medical Teams International clinical officer at the Kuluba Collection Point, before being transported to the new Bidi Bidi refugee settlement. As UNHCR’s lead partner in providing health interventions for refugees in West Nile, Medical Teams International has deployed health workers at each refugee entry point and is able to provide medical support to refugees that may need medical attention on arrival as well as in the camps. Location: Kuluba Collection Point, Nov. 1, 2016.
"I don’t know whether my parents are alive or dead. It’s sad to see the youth of South Sudan abandoning their dreams and run for their life. The soldiers were coming to our villages at night, killing the men and raping the women. Why would you kill someone who is an innocent?" asked Daniel N., 19. Location: Ocea Reception Centre, Nov. 4, 2016.
At 60 years old, Mary F. lives in Pagirinya refugee settlement with her son, two daughters and two grandchildren. "The soldiers were coming, they were surrounding our houses, shooting and beating people. We were scared because we didn't know what was happening." Mary recalls the days before the family decided to flee to Uganda. "We walked for two days. I arrived at Nimule very weak." Location: Pagirinya refugee settlement, Oct. 29, 2016.
"This is the third time I am fleeing into Uganda. My wife is in trauma. We worked hard all our life. We had a house. We lost everything in 1990. We lost everything in October again. Every time we run, we have to start our life from zero." Originally from Yei, two of John's children were born in Uganda as refugees. "I have not been able to communicate with my children for two weeks. They are still in Juba. There is no peace in Juba. But people are afraid of talking." John shares his dream of unity and peace among all tribes in South Sudan: "The only way to end this cycle of violence and death is putting the power in the hands of a man who fears God. Our country won't be at peace until we have a president who puts people before himself. We are tired of running and being refugees." Location: Ocea Reception Centre, Nov. 4, 2016.
"Before the war, life was good in our country," said Simon O., who is 75 years old and lives in Pagirinya refugee settlement with his daughter-in-law and six grandchildren. "We had land and we could farm. Everything changed in July. We did not know that the fighting was coming. We came to Uganda with empty hands." Simon's son was killed during the violence that erupted in July. Simon traveled to the border using a motorbike driver, while the daughter-in-law and the children traveled on foot. Now a refugee, Simon lost his right leg after stepping on a land mine in 2005. Location: Pagirinya Refugee Settlement, Oct. 29, 2016.
