Vulnerable Sudanese continue to flee as aid pours in

Image: Anita Kattakhuzy/Oxfam

The conflict that broke out in South Sudan on 15th December 2013 has left thousands dead and displaced hundreds of thousands more. Vulnerable populations continue to flee ongoing fighting in South Sudan as seasonal rains worsen their already dire living conditions.

Oxfam are currently supporting people affected by the conflict with clean water, sanitation and emergency food security. Over 7 million people are at risk of food insecurity and 4.9 million of them are in urgent need of humanitarian aid.

The situation

Since fighting between government troops and rebel forces erupted last year:

• Over one million people have fled their homes and are now displaced within South Sudan.
• More than 80,000 people have sought refuge at various UN compounds across the country. In Juba, 80 percent of displaced people are women and children.
• More than 350,000 people have fled to neighboring countries, many of whom had to cross the Nile River on their way to Uganda, leaving everything they had behind and risking their lives.
• A cholera outbreak was confirmed mid May, bringing the imminent threat of a health emergency alongside an escalating food crisis.
• Only 15% of people have access to adequate sanitary latrines and 30% do not have access to safe water supply.

With the end of the “month of tranquillity”, which allowed some people to get back to their fields to plant and harvest the coming crops, there is a real danger that a resumption or intensification of hostilities could make all efforts so far count for nothing. It is estimated nearly 4 million people face emergency and crisis levels of hunger as a result of the situation in South Sudan. As many as 2.4 million people could be displaced by the end of the year.

Oxfam has reached nearly 200,000 people in South Sudan with water, health and sanitation equipment. They are working in seven conflict affected areas; Juba, Bor, Malakal, Melut, Mingkaman, Waat and Lankien. They are also working with partners in Uganda to provide emergency support to 36,000 South Sudanese refugees.

Providing safe, clean water & sanitation

• A cholera response team has been formed to respond to the cholera outbreak in Juba. So far 53 volunteers have been trained in hygiene promotion and are contributing to latrine and hand washing stations construction.
• 69,900 people are receiving clean water;
• Inside the Juba UN compound, 10,000 people are being supplied with clean water; approximately 192,000 liters of water a day;
• In Awerial (also known as the Lakes County), depots have been set up, allowing 40,000 people to receive purified water;
• Oxfam has constructed over 500 latrines in Juba and Awerial supporting over 27,400 people;
• And we have reached over 65,000 people in the camps with training on safe hygiene practices like hand washing, the use of water purification tablets and environmental cleanliness.

Emergency food security

• In Juba, Oxfam’s charcoal distribution project has so far reached over 13,000 people addressing one of the greatest needs in the camps – lack of fuel to cook.
• We are also distributing fuel efficient stoves and grinding mills.

Oxfam has a dedicated team to respond to emergencies across South Sudan. They focus on public health, livelihoods and emergency response combined with gender, diversity and conflict-sensitive programming, policy and advocacy work. They have been present in Southern Sudan since 1983, providing humanitarian aid to victims of conflict, drought and floods, as well as long-term development assistance to some of the most vulnerable communities.

Source: Oxfam International

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