The South Sudan Crisis. Is there Hope?
Political conflict, drought, and economic turmoil have for the most part ensured that South Sudan is always swimming in the deep end of massive human displacement, violence, and food shortages.
To know more about the crisis, we have compiled a couple of pointers that will help you understand what is and what has happened in the country since they gained independence in 2011.
· Where it all began.
After attaining independence in 2011, cracks begun to show in the top echelons of power when President Salva Kiir accused his former Vice President, Riek Machar of attempting a coup. President Kiir dismissed Vice President Riek from the office which led to the ex-Vice President forming the SPLM-IO (Sudan’s People Liberation Movement in Opposition) to fight the government forces.
The conflict became bloody leading to the deaths of over 400,000 civilians in over 5 years.
· Where it currently is
30,000 plus people are facing famine as others face starvation. The government however denies the number citing that only 11,000 people are facing starvation.
The conflict has decreased mainly due to the peacekeeping missions by the United Nations and the continuous signing of peace deals and a formation of a coalition-based government between the warring parties. Although things look promising, there is still political violence especially targeting the most food-insecure places.
· Humanitarian Aid Situation
2 million-plus Sudanese have fled the country and are now refugees in neighboring countries.
Over 7.5 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.
More than half of the population does not have access to basic health care.
Desert locusts, floods, and the coronavirus pandemic have not spared the country either.
The European Union and the United Nations have been among the main donors of Humanitarian Aid.
Key Take-Aways
Since obtaining independence, South Sudan has continued to be a land of conflict that knows no stability or peace owing to political instability, falling oil prices, and climate change.
Years of political instability have taken a toll on the youngest country in the world leaving its people devastated and broken.
However, recent peacekeeping and humanitarian aid are helping bring the crisis-prone country back on its feet.
Humanitarian Global hopes a silver lining is closer than further.