South Sudan

The world’s youngest country is known for its diversity in the form of sweeping savannahs, swamplands, rain forests, and over 60 different major ethnic groups comprising its 13.79 million inhabitants. 

Albeit its rich diversity and natural resources, South Sudan has had a difficult birth. Since independence, civil war has resulted in ongoing waves of displacement, violence, and economic instability. Unfortunately, one of the world’s newest nations is also one of the poorest. 

Five years of civil war have led to widespread human rights violations, large-scale internal displacement, refugee outflow, and food insecurity. Clashes continue, displacing over 4 million people. The conflict and displacement have led to disruptions of food production, livelihoods, humanitarian assistance, as well as deterioration of the economy. 

In addition to the health-related effects of food insecurity and lack of access to clean water, South Sudan faces numerous disease outbreaks that continue to affect the most vulnerable populations. Around 75% of all child deaths in South Sudan are due to preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria, and pneumonia.

With a collapse in public services, a severe lack of job opportunities and rising food prices, around two fifths of the population face severe food insecurity. With additional pressures from climate change induced drought – the country is in crisis.

For people across South Sudan, life is incredibly challenging:

• Over 4 million people are estimated to be displaced, including 1.6 million IDPs and 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries (UNHCR) 
• 60% of the population is acutely food insecure (WFP, 2021)
• 8.3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance (OCHA, 2021) 
• Only 11% of the population has access to safely managed and basic service sanitation (WHO, 2019)
  

Islamic Relief began working in South Sudan in 2005 when it was part of Sudan, and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed. With a main office in Juba and operations in Central and Eastern Equatoria, Tonj North, and Western Baher-el-Ghazal, Islamic Relief Canada has helped over 142,650 individuals to date. 

In addition to emergency responses, our current programming in South Sudan includes long-term development activities promoting gender equality and resiliency and providing WASH, protection, and nutrition support. 

Within 5 payams in Tonj North, our team is training caregivers in preventing, identifying, and treating malnutrition in children under 5, rehabilitating water points and latrines to increase access to safe water, and providing gender-sensitive services to internally displaced and host communities. With a particular focus on children and women, we are establishing community-based protection committees, distributing dignity kits, and training caseworks in gender-based violence awareness and referral processes. 

Promoting Gender Equality and Resilient Livelihoods aims to increase the resilience of over 35,000 individuals through general protection and access to psychosocial services for gender-based violence survivors. This is being achieved through the formation of community based protection committees, women and child-friendly spaces, and community awareness and sensitization. 

Other components of this project include providing 4,000 farmer households with better agricultural practices and livelihood assets, establishing 10 agricultural demo plots, vaccinating 20,000 livestock, and treating 3,000 through 20 trained community animal health extension workers.

Elizabeth is a 53 years old amputee widow and a rights-holder in our promoting gender quality and resilient livelihoods in South Sudanduring project. Through this project, she became a member of the community based protection committee (CBPC) and local peace committee (LPC).

She is a widow with 3 children, her husband was amongst the victims of  the civil war in Sudan. Her primarily livelihood is through farming at her farm which is located about 20km from her home. She credits the programming and committees for her awareness on conflict resolution and peace building. 

“Before these trainings, I did not know the various techniques of solving conflict but after the training, I am  enlightened and my knowledge on conflict and resolution has been broadened. My perception and understanding about peace has also changed as I have a better perspective on the various techniques of solving conflict.”

She enthusiastically shares, 

“I am optimistic of South Sudan becoming peaceful”