'All I saw was helplessness, desperation and starvation': Winnipeg man's account of South Sudan refugee camp

On Cross Country Checkup's show on the famine crisis in war-ravaged South Sudan, John Amoko called to share his first-hand account of visiting family members in a refugee camp. As part of the South Sudanese diaspora community in Winnipeg, Man., John is president of the Council of the South Sudanese Community of Manitoba^[1], an organization currently fundraising to help aid refugees. John spoke about his experience with Checkup host Duncan McCue.

On the dire conditions of refugee campsI got back from South Sudan on the 4th of May. All I saw was helplessness, desperation and starvation; people dying of hunger. People are dying of very simple diseases that can be easily prevented. It is a very desperate and very bad situation that I've seen. In the refugee camp they only get one ration, once a month. The children have no school and there's nowhere for them to grow. It is very desperate.

I went back last year when my family was still in South Sudan. When I went this time, there was fighting where my family lives along Juba-Nimule Road, so everyone in that area has been displaced by the military and they're all in the refugee camp.

When I got to the camp, I broke down. I was there for a visit and with the little pocket money that I had, I couldn't help all of the people; you can't help the whole camp. You can see desperation, you can see kids suffering, and there's nothing to eat, there's nothing to cultivate. I broke down; it's very desperate. These things shouldn't be happening at this time and in this age.

On political action and the immediate needs of South SudaneseRight now this is a desperate situation: people are dying of hunger, people are dying of famine, people are dying of starvation, so we need to address these issues first and foremost. The political issues, which are the main cause of the problem, may take time to resolve. But right now what is urgently needed is food supplies, medical supplies, and helping the people in the refugees camp.

A boy watches sacks of food being airdropped by the UN World Food Programme near Rubkuai, South Sudan. (REUTERS/Siegfried Modola)

Now the complicated issue is the war. It has created a lot of division within the South Sudanese people; it is tribal, and not only is it tribal between the Dinkas and the Nuers, but others can be targeted depending on their tribe.

Again, this shouldn't be happening. This is a political situation. For the government, there has to be political will. The South Sudan government has made it so impossible to reach other people in the villages and even in the refugee camp. Now a lot of the aid is restricted before it gets to the people in need. It is either that the government gets to eat first, or the movement gets to eat first.

Fundraising by the South Sudanese community in WinnipegThis crisis puts a lot of pressure on us here in Winnipeg, specifically. A lot of us are part of the South Sudanese diaspora in Winnipeg, but our families are in the refugee camp and in neighbouring countries. Because of the harshness of the situation, we have to divide the little earnings that we have to help our families individually. Can Canada do more? Yes, absolutely.

As a community in Winnipeg we are trying to put together a fundraiser. I have been the president of this community, the Council of the South Sudanese Community of Manitoba, for the last four years. In 2014, we had a fundraiser for South Sudanese starvation. We were able to raise funds at the University of Winnipeg and we gave it to the IRC, the International Rescue Committee. This year we are trying to do the same thing with a fundraiser.

Going from Canada, where we have enough food and tend to waste food, then going to the refugees camp and seeing the people suffering, you think twice. If we could ship food, or even donate one of our meals a day to help the people there, it would be so helpful.

While the Canadian government is doing something, individual Canadians are also contributing, and individually South Sudanese-Canadians are giving and trying to support their families. We are trying to pull our efforts together to help and rescue the situation.

If you would like to help with the fundraising effort of the South Sudanese community in Winnipeg, please contact Council of South Sudanese Community of Manitoba.^[2]

John Amoko's comments have been edited and condensed. This online segment was prepared by Champagne Choquer on May 22, 2017. 

References

1. ^{^} Council of the South Sudanese Community of Manitoba (cosscom.org)
2. ^{^} Council of South Sudanese Community of Manitoba. (cosscom.org)