South Sudan: Reaching millions affected by violence

On the ground, the ICRC works hand-in-hand with the South Sudan Red Cross to provide aid and support to people made vulnerable by the conflict. Since December 2013, the ICRC has distributed food and essential survival items to many thousands of people, and performed more than 2,000 surgeries on patients injured by the clashes.

With the rainy season soon to be at its peak, people who have left their homes in search of safety are becoming increasingly vulnerable. Here a woman walks through seasonal swamps carrying home a bag of food received from the ICRC.

High malnutrition rates as a result of displacement and disrupted food production have forced people in several areas of the country to rely on humanitarian aid – a situation that is likely to last for months to come.

Difficulties in reaching vast tracts of the country by road has – for the first time in 17 years – forced the ICRC to deliver food by air.

Since the conflict erupted in December 2013, thousands of South Sudanese people have received food, seeds, farming tools and essential household supplies that are helping them to cope with displacement and food insecurity. Whether dropped by air or brought by road, food and other items are distributed equitably in an organized way following a careful assessment of the needs of the local population in a given area.

Since the onset of the rainy season, South Sudan has faced several outbreaks of cholera. The ICRC is supporting efforts by the South Sudan Red Cross to prevent the disease from spreading. In sessions with the community (pictured), volunteers show people how to diminish the risks of cholera. Demonstrations on how to use water purification tablets are part of the agenda.

While helping people in South Sudan address their basic needs, ICRC initiatives such as livestock vaccinations aim to build the resilience of vulnerable communities affected by violence.

In a country that has witnessed months of violent clashes, the need for medical services is enormous. Since December 2013, the ICRC has rapidly deployed medical teams which perform surgeries in remote places in conflict-affected areas. The organization is caring for the wounded on all sides.

Insecurity has forced hundreds of thousands to flee, putting enormous pressure on very weak services. Across South Sudan, support is given to local health structures to ensure continuity of appropriate health-care services. The population of Kodok area, in Upper Nile State, has nearly doubled since the beginning of the conflict as people from nearby Malakal continue to arrive. The ICRC has assisted the existing primary health-care centre by deploying a mobile surgical team and a paediatric team.

The recent conflict in South Sudan has separated family members, many of whom go for months without news of loved ones as displacement and weak mobile networks in many areas of the country make such contact impossible. Through mobile or satellite phone calls organized by the ICRC and South Sudan Red Cross, many people are able to get in touch with family members, relieved to let them know that they are safe.

The ICRC continuously promotes awareness of and respect for international humanitarian law, reminding all parties to the conflict of their obligation to respect civilians and those no longer taking part in the hostilities.

People displaced by the violence suffer from inadequate access to life-saving water and sanitation facilities. The ICRC and the South Sudan Red Cross have facilitated hundreds of hand pump-driven water points to ensure access to safe drinking water.

Every day, hundreds of committed South Sudan Red Cross volunteers work to help people in need. The ICRC is providing support to the world’s youngest National Society, including developing its emergency-response capacity.