Rédaction Africa Links 24 with SudanTribune
Published on 2024-03-27 23:45:36
March 27, 2024 marks nearly one year of war in Sudan, a conflict that has resulted in a mass exodus of people fleeing across the border to South Sudan. Save the Children reports that an alarming 1,000 individuals are crossing into South Sudan every day, totaling over 600,000 since last April. This influx of refugees is putting a strain on a region already struggling with severe hunger and facing its worst heatwave in four years.
Save the Children describes the harrowing experiences of these families arriving in South Sudan, many of whom have witnessed unimaginable horrors during their escape. Children are reporting seeing loved ones being killed along the way. The scorching heat adds another layer of misery as exhausted refugees, primarily arriving on foot or by donkey cart, are crowded into overcrowded trucks for a grueling two-hour journey to Renk’s overwhelmed transit centers. Here, over 15,000 people – five times the intended capacity – are enduring harsh conditions with limited access to food, water, and healthcare, with many sleeping outdoors in makeshift shelters.
The onward journey for these refugees is no easier, as hundreds are crammed onto barges for a two-day journey down the Nile or face a 12-hour truck ride to a refugee camp. Many of these individuals have experienced displacement before, having fled to Sudan in 2013 when violence erupted in South Sudan.
Despite a peace deal in 2018, South Sudan continues to be one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with nearly 75% of the population in need of humanitarian aid even before the influx of refugees from Sudan. The strain on limited resources is evident, with a UN appeal for $1.8 billion to support South Sudan being only 18% funded. Save the Children’s CEO, Inger Ashing, visited Renk in the midst of this crisis and called for urgent international support to address the overwhelming needs, especially for the traumatized children.
Ashing emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating, “We need immediate funding to meet the overwhelming needs, especially for these traumatized children.” Despite the hardships faced by refugees in South Sudan, the country offers a glimmer of hope compared to the horrors of war in Sudan. With 1.75 million refugees, South Sudan remains the primary destination for those fleeing the conflict in Sudan.
In response to the crisis, Save the Children has established Child-Friendly Spaces in Renk, providing a safe haven for children to play, learn, and receive psychosocial support. These spaces offer a respite from the trauma and chaos that these children have experienced, providing a sense of normalcy in the midst of conflict and displacement.
Read the original article on Sudan Tribune
