Inside South Sudan’s snake-infested refugee camps, and why the UK is accused of making it worse

Renk refugee camp, where around 10,000 people are living having recently crossed the border from Sudan. (Photo: Molly Blackall/i)

Pornpun Jib Rabiltossaporn, Save The Children’s country director for South Sudan, warned that without greater funding the organisation would be forced to cut back its child protection and safeguarding programmes in the area, as well as the rare moments of joy they provide to the camp’s children through play workshops.

“The international aid cut has had an impact, not just in Renk but across South Sudan,” she says.

“We have been fortunate to be able to respond in the first wave of the conflict. But as a non-profit, we rely on aid. Without aid we will be forced to close down or scale down our programmes. Without these funds, we cannot provide things like tents, or child protection programmes. We would like to the UK Government to rethink the aid cut, because it does have an impact. It’s not just about food on the table, it’s about the future of the nation. If you don’t invest in children, you will constantly be having this kind of emergency response.”

A UK Government spokesperson insisted the country remained one of the largest aid donors around the world, having spent a total of £12.8bn last year globally, and that the Government would restore its previous aid commitment of 0.7 per cent of GDP “as soon as the fiscal situation allows”.

Before we leave the camp, we return to Joseph’s tent. He has just found out his newborn is a boy. The tiny infant is, for now, oblivious to the horrors surrounding him. But just hours into his life, Joseph already fears for his son’s future.

“I do feel joy, but it won’t be for too long,” Joseph says. “How can I when we live like this? We don’t have enough to eat. Mosquitos are everywhere. Life is a fight everyday.”

*Names have been changed for security reasons