CRISPIN ANDERLINI shares the situation in South Sudan where civil war and drought are taking a terrible toll on the people. 

Rosa Lyo (75) lives in Rajaf, just outside South Sudan’s capital, Juba, but even here the drought and conflict is taking a heavy toll. Like many of the 4.9 million people in urgent need, she struggles to find food and is forced to walk an hour and a half each way just to find bitter weeds to eat.

Rosa makes this journey about five times in a week and the weeds she gathers for herself and her husband, a 90-year-old Congolese refugee who is unable to walk, lack nutrition but are their main source of food.

It’s not just the distance that takes a toll. The search for food is very dangerous because armed gangs roam the countryside, terrorising local people.

“We have to go because of hunger,” Rosa said. “If you get killed, then you have to accept that it’s your time.”

There are millions like Rosa. In a country already stricken with internal conflict, beset with marauding bands of unpaid soldiers looking to survive, hunger is spreading. By July this year, 5.5 million people (more than 40 per cent of the population) are expected to be in serious need and the number of people currently experiencing famine (100,000) will have increased dramatically unless aid organisations like Caritas are able to gain access to the most severely affected communities.

Civil War Adding to Hunger

Although drought caused by a severe El Nino in 2016 has played a role in this major humanitarian catastrophe, this natural calamity has only exacerbated the principal — and human made — cause of the emergency: a civil war between political rivals that has been fought since 2013. And despite the peace agreement which has been in place since August 2015, the political situation continues to escalate, displacing millions of people. The UN estimates that 3.6 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including 1.7 million who are now refugees in neighbouring countries.

At the heart of the conflict are two men representing two historically-opposed tribes. On one side is President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the first president of the world’s newest nation since it was established in 2011 and a member of the Dinka community (pastoralist cattle herders and the largest ethnic group). Standing in opposition is the former Vice President Riek Machar (Nuer ethnic group, sedentary farmers), who was fired in July 2013.

Neither of these leaders — of either government or rebels — seems to have any control over their forces.

The ongoing turmoil, violence and uncertainty has affected food prices: prices have skyrocketed, with many staples like maize and sorghum doubling or tripling in price.

Utilising an extensive Church network, the Caritas confederation is continuing to distribute food, shelter and household items for thousands of displaced people, hygiene kits to help avoid disease spreading, and medicines for local clinics, as well as pursuing efforts at building a lasting peace. Seeds and tools are also being distributed to communities who have retained their land.

“This is to increase food security and self-sufficiency for people in the long term and fill empty markets so those who have been forced to flee their homes are able to afford food,” explains Mark Mitchell, Humanitarian Programmes Coordinator for Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand.

People Live with Constant Threat and Terror

Recently returned from helping Caritas South Sudan coordinate the emergency response, Mark has seen the effects first-hand and has spoken to those people living the grim realities of this disaster.

A church and the chief’s house are all that is left standing of Lobonok, a village about two hour’s drive from Juba. There were once another 365 homesteads, but they were burned down during tribal violence in February. When the army came to re-establish order, the soldiers went on a looting spree.

“Our house was burned down. When we saw people being killed, we ran to the school. We just grabbed the children and fled,” said Mary Joanne Guma, a mother of five.

Lobonok’s residents are now living in tents next to their burned-out homes. The Dinka live nearby.

“We’re scared of cultivating because of the pastoralists,” said Simon Lokuji, the village chief. “Before you could make charcoal to sell or collect wild vegetables but now it is too dangerous. The adults can resist the hunger, but not the children.”

Caritas is providing food aid, but resources are scarce and more funds are needed to continue feeding the hungry.

“This is the last meal. Tomorrow we have to eat and we don’t know how,” said Lily Poli, a local resident, stirring a pot of beans that will feed half a dozen children.

One of the humanitarian officers at Caritas South Sudan, Francis Ojoadi is in a unique position to help families like his own survive these desperate times that have impacted everyone in the country.

At the peak of the fighting last year, Francis had to take his family over the border to Uganda, where they joined the other nearly 720,000 refugees who have fled south since July 2016.

His people, the Madi, were forced off their land after political shifts and realignments led to localised conflict. Many were killed, properties were looted and crops were destroyed. After appeals for the government to intercede failed, many Madi feel that it is too dangerous to return to their village and so have joined the exodus to refugee camps outside South Sudan and Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) camps in safer parts of the country.

There is food available in the Ugandan refugee camp where Francis’ family is staying and they are able to sleep at night without fear of being shot. But Francis wonders what the long-term impact will be on these refugees, his family and the future of his country. 

Tui Motu Magazine Issue 216 June 2017: 18-19