Hungry and Homeless
Hundreds of Thousands Displaced in South Sudan
NULLAM
Huddled outside the United Nations building just to the southwest of Juba, South Sudan's capital, thousands of civilians seek shade under makeshift tents. Wooden poles positioned in a teepee formation draped with few cloths provide the only shelter for these people. But these displaced civilians positioned outside the United Nations are only a small portion of the total number of the displaced Sudanese. Over 700,000 have been internally displaced, an estimated 200,000 have fled the country beginning in December and an estimated 10,000 killed. Not only are many South Sudan citizens lacking a home, but many are suffering from no food and clean water as well as other things like medical care. (BBC News, 2014)
Spokeswoman for UNHCR, Melissa Fleming, said, “We are really noticing a trend in all refugees that they are in very poor physical shape. Some are suffering from malaria, diarrhea, respiratory infections. Many have been hiding in the bush for up to even one year in the Central African Republic, which has significantly impacted their state of health. Also, very disturbingly, many children under the age of five are showing varying degrees of malnourishment." (VOA News, 2014)
What caused this catastrophe in South Sudan? It first started July 9th, 2011 when South Sudan became its own independent state, breaking apart from Sudan. The reason for the split was due to the fact that in Northern Sudan the primary rule was Arabic Muslims, while in South Sudan the primary religion was Christianity. It's a surprise that South Sudan and Sudan didn't break apart sooner. Now, as a new country South Sudan is ethnically divided up by many different ethnic groups, which is where our catastrophe starts. Certain groups accused the government of not fairly representing all ethnic groups in South Sudan. Now because of this, certain ethnic groups have begun to clash. President Salva Kiir Mayardit is part of the Dinka ethnic group, while the ex-Vice president is part of the Nuer ethnic group. Rivalry has begun between the two groups and an open rebellion began December 15, 2013. (New Vision, 2014)
The main issue present is the effect that this civil war has on the people. Hundreds of thousands of citizens have been fleeing the country and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Those who remain have to live in fear. Those who leave, leave without much food or water setting
themselves up for death. It's been very difficult for organizations like the Red Cross, an other ones, to be able to provide food water and shelter for these people because they have all been dispersed and displaced from their homes.
According to Adrian Edwards, UNHCR spokesman, said, “It has been impossible to get food pre-positioned there because of the insecurity we have seen. And this now is starting to show itself in some very worrisome consequences. Real shortages of food, growing rates of global and severe acute malnutrition. We are particularly worried about the impact this may have on people who, as they move - because if you move across from there toward Ethiopia, for example, the conditions are difficult, the route is difficult. It is likely that people arriving in Ethiopia, should they come there, will be in much worse state still," (Schlein, 2014)
The UN has set up bases all throughout South Sudan for refugees to come to. These bases provide simple things for the refugees like food, water, plastic sheeting, blankets, mosquito nets, sleeping pads, etc. As of January, South Sudan's government and rebels signed a ceasefire, which has now been broken again after more fighting has broken out. For the future, it is definitely possible for South Sudan to come to an agreement if all ethnic groups are represented at a meeting where they can all come to an equal agreement. Hopefully for all the people suffering, South Sudan will hopefully resolve their issues and come together as a nation. (Fisher, 2014)
Fisher, M. (n.d.). This map drives home how bad things are getting in South Sudan. World Views . Retrieved March 18, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/01/06/this-map-drives-home-how-bad-things-are-getting-in-south-sudan/
Schlein, L. (n.d.). Refugees in South Sudan Face Food, Health Crisis. VOA. Retrieved March 18, 2014, from http://www.voanews.com/content/refugees-in-south-sudan-face-food-health-crisis/1866541.html
South Sudan ceasefire 'ends' amid Malakal fighting. (2014, February 18).BBC News. Retrieved March 15, 2014, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26238849
VOA - Voice of America English News. (n.d.). VOA - Voice of America English News. Retrieved March 17, 2014, from http://www.voanews.com/
By: Adrienne Barberich
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