Ever since its independence in 2011, all that South Sudan has seen is violence, political instability and the rise of local militias. All these factors have pushed this country into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The refugee crisis of South Sudan is the largest in Africa and the fourth largest in the world after Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan.
The newest country which gained independence 9 years ago should be full of hope instead into its first year of independence the country started witnessing a rift between its President Salva Kiir Mayardit and its Vice President Riek Machar. Years of conflicts, and natural calamities have severely damaged the infrastructure of the country. Health care systems have failed, schools are closed and the corrupt government has failed the people.
South Sudan is one of the most diverse countries in Africa. The largest ethnic groups include Dinka (40%), Nuer (20%), Zande (8-10%), Bari and Shilluk. They are mostly Africans who practice Christianity and follow traditional African religions. Christians account for about 60% of the population, followed by animists, and a small minority of Muslims. The diversity of South Sudan played a major role in its politics and also the reason behind the rift among its president and vice president. President Salva Kiir is a member of the Dinka tribe (largest ethnic group) while Vice President Riek Machar is a member of the Nuer tribe (2nd largest).
What led to the Humanitarian Crisis in South Sudan?
South Sudan’s long and tangled history has played a major role in many of its present-day conflicts. By the end of the 19th century, Sudan was under British-Egyptian rule. The North and the South had different reactions to the British colonization. The North accepted it and allowed the British to impose its culture and modernize the country whereas the South rejected it, leading to a contrast in development between the North and the South.
On 1st January, 1956, Sudan gained its independence from Great Britain.
Unfortunately, the differences in religion, culture, and even racial composition between the North and South made it difficult for the two sects to unify after independence. The North was mostly composed of white Muslims, while the South was made up of Blacks that practice Christianity and traditional religions. The North tried to impose a Sharia law gradually throughout the country. This eventually led to a civil war (The First Sudanese Civil War) from 1956 to 1972 that ended with the signing of the Addis Ababa Agreement. This document included the establishment of an autonomous South Sudan with Juba as its capital.
About 10 years later in 1983, the Sudanese government cancelled the autonomy arrangements and re-tried to impose the same Islamic law. John Garang formed the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in the South to resist the government and fight for a more unified and secular country. This led to one of the longest civil wars in the world, lasting for 22 years and resulting in more than 2.5 million deaths and close to 5.5 million people getting displaced. It ended in 2005 when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed. The Agreement provided South Sudan with semi autonomous status, free from Islamic Law, and gave it the ability to vote for independence in six years.
In 2011, a weeklong vote on independence was held from January 9th to January 15th, resulting in 98.8% voting for South Sudan secession and independence. On 9th July 2011, South Sudan declared its independence. It became the 54th country in Africa, and the 193rd in the World. The youngest country in the world.
Unfortunately, peace did not last for very long. In late 2012, there were rumours about a planned coup. In 2013, President Salva Kiir accused his Vice-President Reik Machar of planning this coup, and sacked its entire Cabinet. This dispute between the two politicians was complicated by the fact they were from two different ethnic groups. President Salva Kiir is a member of the Dinka tribe (largest ethnic group) while Vice President Riek Machar is a member of the Nuer tribe (2nd largest). In December 2013, fights erupted in the streets of Juba, 9 and that has led to one of the biggest humanitarian crises in Africa.
Present Scenario:
There are currently 4.3 million displaced people in South Sudan. These include refugees, IDP’s and asylum-seekers. 63% of the South Sudanese refugees are children under the age of 18. There are more than 2 million refugees from South Sudan of whom nearly 1.6 million South Sudanese refugees are relocated in the neighbouring countries, whereas Uganda and Sudan host 800,000 refugees which is 50% of all the South Sudanese refugees. Despite so many problems South Sudan has been generous and has always lent a helping hand towards those in need, it currently hosts nearly 300,000 refugees from the nearby countries.
South Sudan has not been receiving much of outside help. Armed groups have not been allowing humanitarian agencies to help those in need. Furthermore, some areas have been inaccessible due to fighting. South Sudan recently topped the list for most violent countries in the world for foreign aid workers. Assaults on aid convoys and looting of supplies have become increasingly common, making it difficult and dangerous to reach in-need families with the support they need to survive. Over 7 million people—about two thirds of the population are in need of urgent humanitarian aid, including around 6.9 million people starving.
Food security is expected to deteriorate more, with 7.7 million people estimated to face crisis levels of hunger with the onset of the July to August lean season, the period of time between harvests when food stores are low. Those who’ve run have lost loved ones and their homes, their land and their livelihoods. Violence toward civilians has been widespread, including targeted attacks, gender-based violence, kidnappings and murders. Burning and pillaging of homes and livestock is rampant.
According to UNICEF, more than 70 percent of the country’s children are out of school. The development of children is also seriously impacted by hunger. Without proper nutrition, they don’t hit critical developmental milestones, which can permanently inhibit their ability to learn and function for the rest of their lives. Hungry children don’t learn as well, and they are also at a higher risk of disease. According to UNICEF, around 860,000 children under 5 in South Sudan are acutely malnourished.
What are international communities doing in order to help?
With so much need, South Sudan relies heavily on external humanitarian funding, which should be credited for saving countless South Sudanese lives. However, the UN estimates current needs at $1.7 billion, only half of which has been funded to date. Since 2011, total humanitarian funding surpassed $9.5 billion, most of which has been part of the coordinated South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan (SSHRP).
The U.S. government has provided almost $3 billion to the SSHRP, with even more development priorities. This aid has helped and continues to help millions. In 2017 alone, more than 5 million people received food assistance, almost 3 million people received emergency health kits, and nearly one million children and pregnant and lactating women were treated for malnutrition.
UNHCR is appealing for US$2.7 billion to address the life-saving humanitarian needs of South Sudanese refugees in 2019 and 2020. In 2018, UNHCR and its partners received just 38 percent of the required US$1.4 billion requested to support South Sudanese refugees. Education, health and food supplies are all severely underfunded, exacting a heavy toll on women and children, who account for 83 percent of the refugees.
"South Sudan and it's people are at a precarious crossroads between being and not being."
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