South Sudan crisis will not end if the violence there does not

PEOPLE ask me if I think there is any light at the end of the tunnel for the people of South Sudan — the world’s youngest country that is suffering from four years of civil war, a war that eventually pitched parts of the country into famine earlier this year.

They ask questions like: “What does the future look like for these suffering people?”

My response is that for the 6m people who are estimated to be facing severe food shortages, which is half the country’s population, the outlook is precarious. Almost 4m people have had to leave their homes. Two million of them remain in the country while almost another 2m, half of whom are children, have fled the country and are living in refugee camps in neighbouring countries.

The situation is extremely difficult for the communities in which our team of over 350 staff work. The level of malnutrition is getting worse — especially among young children and vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people living with disabilities. We help to prevent the situation from deteriorating further and work towards improving conditions for the communities most affected by delivering programmes in nutrition, health, shelter and food, both independently and in collaboration with other organisations.

However, with so many people in need, and limited resources, it’s often very hard to prioritise what support to give, and where.

In our nutrition programmes, Concern specifically targets the most vulnerable. These are children under the age of five and pregnant women who are severely malnourished. At these programmes you see what real hunger truly looks like and it is a sight that never leaves you. A hungry child looks sad and scared. Their skin is dull, their frame is small and fragile and they have no energy to walk, talk or play. The inquisitive look of a well-nourished child is replaced with vacant stares.

We are treating malnourished children and women in one of the counties, Leer, where famine was declared in February, and although this status has been withdrawn, 1.7m people are still on the brink of starvation. An outbreak of cholera that continues to spread in counties located along the River Nile is now adding to the devastation.

Conflict is the main driver of the famine and human suffering in South Sudan and it continues to impede access to communities experiencing food shortages. Without a genuine ceasefire and political discussions that address issues like injustice, inequality and insecurity, the food crisis will persist.

It is very hard to deliver aid in a conflict zone. In fact, in most of the areas where Concern works, the practicality of delivering aid is immensely challenging. For example, in Leer, canoes are used to transport our supplies and staff must walk through the swamps to reach women and children who urgently need food and medical treatment. Families hide on small islands in the swamp regions as a desperate attempt to avoid war and stay alive.

Enabling easier access could not only save lives, but also money. It is much more expensive to deliver aid in a conflict zone. Due to attacks on the road, staff and supplies (including huge quantities of food and shelter supplies) have to be airlifted rather than transported by road. Additional measures also need to be put in place for the personal security of staff, including additional security guards, training and security infrastructure.

Concern works in South Sudan because of these difficulties. We work in some of the poorest and most difficult places in the world. There may be immense challenges, but through our hard work and perseverance, and with the ongoing support from people in Ireland and around the world, there is the chance to make a meaningful difference to these people’s lives. We’ve adapted to our surroundings by increasing food and nutrition programmes and the number of health centres. Our team in South Sudan is reaching over 400,000 people in what is an extremely challenging environment, where security is always at the forefront of our minds.

As well as providing urgent care to thousands of malnourished children, we continue to provide shelter (plus food, water and sanitation) to 150,000 people at the UN’s Protection of Civilian sites in Bentiu and Juba — where civilians find refuge during conflict.

We have robust systems in place to ensure that supporter’s money is spent effectively, and while I can understand why people may worry about their support getting through in conflict-affected areas, I wholeheartedly encourage them to keep an open mind and to learn more about Concern and the work we do. I would like to thank people for their support so far, and let them know that it is very much appreciated by the famine-affected communities of South Sudan.

In the long term, the only viable solution to end the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan is the cessation of violence and that all parties of the conflict work together to develop the country for its 12m people — including those who have had to flee into other countries out of fear and desperation.

Right now however, humanitarian assistance is crucial in order to keep the most vulnerable people alive and to help ensure the next generation of South Sudanese people live to see a brighter day. Concern is thankful for your support as we stand with the people of South Sudan.

Fiona McLysaght from Tuamgraney, Co Clare, is Concern Worldwide’s country director in South Sudan.