South Sudan food crisis
Our treatment centres are delivering food and medicines to Akobo — an area of fierce conflict between two neighbouring tribes since the start of 2009 — where malnutrition rates are three times the official emergency levels.
John, 18, says: “I’m hoping our elected officials bring leadership, democracy, peace and prosperity. It would be good if our leaders can bring democracy so people have a say in choosing their future. If there is peace, we will be able to restart our lives and slowly rebuild.”
David, 18, says: “Telephone networks are very important. For example, right now I am going to school and I live far away from my parents. But because there is no telephone network, I cannot tell them my needs, and they cannot tell me theirs. If I need to talk with my parents, I have to make the long journey and meet them in person just to have a conversation.”
Bakita says: “The leader I’m looking for is a leader who can help his people. The main things we need for our communities are education, health care, and clean water. We also need a leader who will provide security.”
Deng, 15, says: “A leader should be able to stop people from fighting. Most of the fighting that is taking place in our country is caused by people’s leaders. Most children in South Sudan have not been able to go to school because of insecurity. Because of this, we’ve fallen behind."
Abuk, 14, says: “We are very far from the nearest market, and last year our harvest was not successful. So it is hard to get food unless we travel long distances. A good leader is also someone who can protect the people. We are near the border with the north, and we live with the threat of harm coming from outside.”
Atong, 12, says: “I would like our leaders to construct schools for the children, provide school materials to use for learning, and to pay the teachers on time. They should also drill boreholes for the schools so the students can have clean water. Leaders should take care of the entire school community. If all these things were provided it would encourage more children to come to school and get an education."
Yel, 14, says: “I expect the elected leaders to deliver schools, water, and health care. This is what they’ve promised us and I expect them to implement these promises. Also, I think they should improve the road networks. We often have to travel long distances on foot, and it would be better if we had a means of transport. Schools are also important because educated people can help their communities."
Amel, 14, says: “A good leader should provide basic services. Our community needs clean water and schools. Many people fall ill and get diseases, but there are no health facilities nearby where they can go for treatment. I would like our leaders to provide hospitals, clean water, schools and materials.”
Nyiro, 13, says: “A good leader keeps his promises. Our community needs hospitals, clean water, schools, and food. A good leader should be able to provide these things for the community. Leaders can promote education by providing food and clean water for school children."
Anei, 10, says: “A good leader is a person who does the right thing for the community. I would like our elected leaders to bring boreholes, a hospital, and schools to our community, and I would like to see these problems solved immediately, instead of hearing promises that are never fulfilled. We need immediate action.”
An estimated 4.5 million people, half the population of Southern Sudan, are expected to need some form of food assistance in the coming months.
More than 45% of children under the age of five are suffering acute malnutrition – they are extremely susceptible to disease. One-third of the cases reported are particularly severe. These children are likely to die if they don’t receive emergency food aid.
“Malnutrition levels are already at lethal levels and hunger will only increase, as the next crop isn’t due until August and families are nearing the end of their food supplies,” said Kate Foster, Director of Programme Development for Save the Children in Southern Sudan.
Conflict and lack of rain
Children in remote areas of South Sudan face extreme hunger and could die if they don’t receive emergency food aid. A recent assessment found malnutrition rates in areas of Akobo County, Jonglei State, to be three times the official emergency levels.
Akobo has been the epicentre of a fierce conflict between two neighbouring tribes since the start of 2009. Malnutrition rates are particularly high as families were forced to flee their homes to avoid fighting. Unable to plant crops, this has worsened an already precarious food situation.
The rains failed and a widespread regional drought forced up prices of imported food that many families rely on, but can no longer afford.
Food supplies are so low, families are already eating only one meal a day and have begun to sell livestock to buy food. Others report that youths had left to join the army in order to raise money to buy food for their families.
What we’re doing
- As of the end of May, 404 malnourished children were enrolled in our Outpatient Therapeutic Programmes (OPTs) in Akobo County and Dengjok. Since the programme began on 29 March, a total of 582 children have been admitted to the programme and 116 have been nursed back to health with additional food and medicine.
- 8,896 children under the age of 5 and pregnant and breastfeeding women are receiving supplementary feeding every 2 weeks.
On a week-on-week basis we are seeing an increase in the admission rates to our feeding programme as we get further into the hunger season.
Ethnic tensions between groups have led to the Lou tribe being expelled from their land. 4,660 of these people have already arrived in Akobo County and another 9,000 people are rumoured to be en-route. This is compounding an already very bad food security situation in Akobo county.
People are arriving with nothing – no food or shelter. We immediately referred 9 severely malnourished children into the feeding programme, but expect to provide other emergency aid over the coming days.
Please donate to our Children’s Emergency Fund now
Find out more about our work in Sudan
