logo

In South Sudan, cost of living crisis leaving mothers to scavenge for vegetables and use herbs as medicine

Written/Submitted by External Source
Category: South Sudan & African News From Various Sources
Hits: 1253

 In South Sudan, cost of living crisis leaving mothers to scavenge for vegetables and use herbs as medicine

Lambs graze in the street in Juba, South Sudan’s capital. The country was already receiving IMF emergency support in 2021 before the latest wave of inflation and food price rises hit (Photo: Getty)

 

“The current situation has brought a lot of suffering to me as a woman,” Esther Sitima Noah, who lives in Kondeko, South Sudan, told i. “The biggest problem we face is finding food. When there is no food to eat, I go and collect vegetables and some bananas from people’s gardens and boil them with water.”

Esther is one of the millions[1] of people experiencing extreme food consumption gaps in South Sudan following years of national conflict, catastrophic floods and economic challenges. Food assistance needs are expected to peak from July until September when the country could see up to 75 per cent of households [2]facing hunger and acute malnutrition.

“Everything is increasingly expensive,” said Esther. “I tried to do a business, but it failed due to the crises. Even if you get money, it can’t buy enough. If you go to the market, the business people tell you the dollar has gone high, meaning everything is expensive. It causes a lot of frustration and sadness to me. Another problem I face is meeting the health needs of my family, even the cost of medicines has gone very high. Sometimes I resort to treating my family with local herbs and pray we don’t fall seriously ill.”

The cost of fuel, food, and medicine in South Sudan has spiked in recent weeks. Fuel which cost 260 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) (£1.60) at the start of the year, has risen to 750 SSP. A bag of wheat flour has gone up to 16,000 SSP from 11,000 SSP. Malaria medication for one person costs a minimum of 3,000 SSP, the typical price of a monthly salary in South Sudan. The spikes in prices are the result of years of flooding, conflict, and the war in Ukraine.

“Where floods have hit hard, we have seen a lot of displacement of both people and their livestock,” Marianne Kajokaya, country director in South Sudan for Women for Women International[3], told i. “This has created conflict as herders have had to invade agrarian communities. We have seen a lot of violence related to the invasion of farmlands and the raiding of cattle. Many lives have been lost.”Recent conflicts due to flooding follow a history of conflict in South Sudan. In 2011, South Sudan won its independence from Sudan following 20 years of civil war[4]. The young country was plunged into crisis in December 2013 when a power struggle ensued between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar, throwing the country into a civil war[5] that took the lives of 50,000 people and displaced 1.6 million.“With the war in Ukraine things have become even worse as the common man is unable to meet basic needs due to a spike in prices that has even worsened in the past few weeks,” Ms Kajokaya said.South Sudan imports 80 per cent of food items[6] from Uganda and Kenya, all of which have increased in price as a result of the war between Ukraine and Russia, two major exporters of wheat, fertiliser, and fuel. Additionally, humanitarian funding for the food crisis in many African countries, including South Sudan, has been diverted to support Ukrainians.Ms Kajokaya is especially concerned for women and children as the food crisis spirals in South Sudan. “I’m afraid more women will produce children and neglect them,” Kajokaya said. “This will mean an increase in street children and crimes. We are seeing significant school dropouts due to the economic situation and this may worsen. We’ll also see a rise in mental cases. Already we have a significant number of mad women in Yei.”
 
In South Sudan, cost of living crisis leaving mothers to scavenge for vegetables and use herbs as medicine
Long horns cows in a Mundari tribe cattle camp near the Nile. Conflict over resources – including cattle – is increasing (Photo; Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Corbis/Getty)
 
Suzan Kamules Robert is a single mother trying to raise her children in Hai Gezira, South Sudan, but is struggling to even feed them. “I experience a lot of things that hurt and scare me so much that whenever I think and talk about them, tears can’t stop running down my face,” Suzan said to i. “I’m unable to afford food every day so I’m forced to pluck cassava leaves and boil them with water for us, without even salt. I can’t afford soap for washing or proper medication. Everything has become so expensive, especially in recent months. As a poor mother, I am unable to fulfil my needs and the needs of my children. I just keep on wondering what the fate of my children will be. I’m worried that if I fail to educate my children, they’ll also suffer like me.”Ms Kajokaya said some young women think marriage will solve their problems. “Most think marriage is the best option but if it fails, they can take on to dangerous activities such as prostitution and anything that they’d perceive as making their lives better,” she said.
 

In addition to food insecurity, women and girls have the added fear of sexual violence perpetrated by armed groups across the country. A recent report[10] based on interviews with victims in South Sudan describes the “hellish existence for women and girls[11]” who face the risk of rape as conflict continues.

Through strengthening women with skills development, vocational training, and social networking, Ms Kajokaya hopes she can help women to cope. Yet, she knows her efforts may not be enough to save women in the midst of the current crisis.

“It is critical that the international community provide support and attention to Ukrainians affected by the war, with whom we share a hope for peace,” Ms Kajokaya said. “However, for other countries like South Sudan, where famine and poverty loom large due to food insecurity, rising fuel prices and the gaps in food imports from Ukraine and Russia, and where floods and escalation in conflict are expected imminently, support and attention are just as urgent. Governments and the international community must provide the increased support necessary to meet all needs, rather than shifting resources and attention from one crisis to another.”

Source http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=23598480ECE94BDB9C72A5244E22E301&url=https%3A%2F%2Finews.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fsouth-sudan-cost-of-living-crisis-making-mothers-scavenge-vegetables-pray-healthy-1677350&c=11562758651714917873&mkt=en-ca

Newer articles:

Older news items

Latest news items (all categories):

Random articles (all categories):

Popular articles:

Latest News/Articles

Latest Jobs

Most Read Articles