Facts
A total of
647,722
people in need received our assistance in 2017.
Humanitarian overview
In 2011, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan, marking an end to Africa's longest-running civil war. But two years later, violent conflict broke out again after political disagreement between President Salva Kiir and former Vice-President Riek Machar, and has since forced over three million people to flee their homes.
Despite a peace agreement signed by the warring parties in August 2015, the population in the world's youngest state has yet to experience peace. The civil war in South Sudan is in its fourth year and has forced nearly one million people to flee to neighbouring countries.
On 20 February 2017, the UN declared famine in parts of South Sudan. Although drought has caused food insecurity in the country, the famine is largely human-made. Parties in the civil war have systematically blocked supplies to drought affected areas.
Thousands of homes have been ruined during the fighting and many people have been displaced multiple times because of repeated attacks. The civil war has also prevented food production, making it difficult for people to sow or harvest as normal.
People we helped in South Sudan in 2017
NRC's operation
Acts of violence in refugee camps make it difficult to protect South Sudanese affected by the conflict. The civil war also prevents humanitarian organisations, including NRC, from reaching out to the many people who need lifesaving assistance.
Our emergency teams on the ground deliver lifesaving aid. Our rapid response and mobile emergency interventions are one of our largest activities in South Sudan. We reach vulnerable people in remote areas that are difficult to access.
Education
Our education teams:
- provide children with education opportunities and give catch-up classes to those who have missed school
- provide youth with vocational training
- give adults the opportunity to learn how to read and write through basic adult literacy programmes
Information, counselling and legal assistance (ICLA)
Our ICLA experts:
- provide information and training sessions so that people can learn about and exercise their housing, land and property rights
- help resolving conflicts over land to promote peaceful coexistence in communities
- support women in obtaining access to land and tenure
- help people obtaining their legal documents
Livelihoods and food security
We have food security projects in both conflict affected states as well as in the more stable areas. We also have emergency teams on the ground who deliver food to people in extreme need. Our teams:
- distribute food in remote areas
- provide cash assistance to people affected by displacement
- hand out seeds
- distribute vouchers for people to use at their local merchants
- support people in getting a livelihood by giving trainings on agricultural production.
- help farmers gain access to markets by repairing roads and organising agricultural fairs
Shelter and settlements
We distribute emergency shelters in remote areas. Through our shelter activities, we:
- distribute shelters and kits containing kitchenware, mosquito nets and plastic sheeting
- teach people how to build shelters
- instruct people on how to repair and improve their shelters
- construct schools and classrooms
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) promotion
Our WASH activities aim to:
- provide displaced people with clean water and latrines
- spread knowledge about safe hygiene practices to people affected by displacement
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