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Call for Help for South Sudan

Thursday February 23 2017

A former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has called for ‘a passionate and generous humanitarian response’ after famine was declared in parts of South Sudan.

Aid agencies are warning that millions of people are struggling to survive in the world’s youngest country, which has been crippled by more than three years of internal conflict. The famine was formally announced on Monday in parts of Unity State, where 100,000 people are facing starvation; and a further million people are classified as being ‘on the brink of famine’.

The UK government has pledged £200m in emergency aid for South Sudan and Somalia, but NGOs are warning that hundreds of millions of pounds more is needed to prevent catastrophe there and in other struggling countries such as Yemen and Nigeria.

The Very Rev Dr John Chalmers (right), Principal Clerk to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, visited South Sudan while he was Moderator in 2015. He said yesterday: “There has been so much sad news out of South Sudan, but this is the saddest news I have heard since returning from Juba [the capital city].

“I spoke then of the complete breakdown in the rhythm of life – crops had died in the fields and cultivation had been interrupted by both war and drought. Now is the time for a passionate and generous humanitarian response. My abiding prayer is that the seeds of this year’s harvest can be planted alongside the much-needed seeds of reconciliation and peace.

“I am humbled, but inspired to be part of a Church of Scotland initiative which is working with the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan on the training of peacemakers and the healing of trauma. I will continue to contribute to this work, but first we need to save the lives of the people who need daily bread as much as they need to be saved from the trial and suffering of war.”

South Sudan gained its independence from the north in 2011, after decades of fighting. However, in December 2013 a power struggle between two political parties descended into violence and then civil war. More than three million people - a quarter of the population - have been displaced and the country's economy has collapsed.

The Christian NGOs working with partners in the country are warning that the situation could get worse.

Speaking from Juba, Christian Aid’s South Sudan country manager Rosie Crowther said: “For many, many months Christian Aid and our local partners have been sounding the alarm about the escalating humanitarian catastrophe here in South Sudan. Our worst fears have now become a devastating reality.

“I have witnessed first-hand the incredible resilience of South Sudanese people in the face of so many crises. However, many people have now exhausted their coping mechanisms. As a result, tens of thousands could die of starvation, and millions do not know where their next meal is coming from. 

“Tragically, this crisis was utterly preventable. This declaration of famine in Unity State is a harsh wake-up call. The international community must do more to address the plight of the South Sudanese people. The situation will continue to deteriorate rapidly if we don’t act now. We can, and must, do more.”

Donald Mavunduse, Tearfund’s Head of East and Southern Africa Team, said: "This is a desperate situation for South Sudan to be facing and we are worried that it is only going to get worse in the coming months with famine spreading more widely. Already, 4.9m people, more than 40 per cent of the population, are in need of urgent food, clean water and nutrition assistance. Inflation has rocketed to between 800 and 900%, so buying food has become impossible for ordinary people, and there is little sign of the conflict coming to an end."

Christian Aid’s South Sudan appeal

Tearfund’s South Sudan appeal

"Pray for Peace to Come Back to Our Country": 2014 interview with the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan

 


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