Refugees of South Sudan

Written By: Anna Zhang

Everyday, millions of South Sudanese families wake up, not knowing if they’ll survive another day. The lack of resources, food, and shelter is increasing dramatically, and the number of refugees joining them is only growing by the day. With no clear end to the violence plaguing South Sudan, there is no telling when these families can go back to their home.

Sudan refugees in South Sudan
Source: Sopa Images

Background:

South Sudan has a long and tumultuous history. In 1956, Sudan was declared an independent country from the previous Britain-Egyptian rule. However, northern leaders hoped to force the Islamic law and culture to all parts of the country. The South resisted, and with additional fear that the northern-based government would try and take over the whole country, a civil war ensued. This lengthy war was temporarily paused by the Addis Ababa Agreement of 1972, only to resume again about 10 years later, in 1983. After decades of fighting, the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended the war and helped bridge the animosity between the north and south. More importantly, the Agreement granted southern Sudan the right to become an independent country in 6 years, and indeed, on July 9, 2011, South Sudan became an independent country.

South Sudan soldiers fighting during the war
Source: The Economist

Soon enough, the war and devastating impact on civilians caused the UN Security Council to become involved. Under worldwide pressure, Kiir signed a peace agreement with Machar in 2015. However, soon after Machar returned as vice president, violence broke out between government forces and opposing faction groups. Once more, tens of thousands of people were displaced.

Due to the overwhelming amount of refugees from South Sudan, the UN peacekeeping mission set up large scale camps to protect citizens from violence. While this worked for a while, the camps would soon become crowded and cramped. In 2023, fighting in neighboring Sudan caused a flurry of refugees to seek protection in these very camps. Hunger, chaos, and violence afflicted these camps, and the government did not have the resources to aid these refugees. Now, not just 5 million people were at risk from food insecurity– 7.7 million people were. That was more than ⅔ of the population, a devastating number. To make matters worse, heavy rains and flooding in 2024 worsened the camp conditions even further, which only made the food crisis worse.

People Fleeing South Sudan:

According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than 83% of those fleeing South Sudan are women and children. Most have faced devastating violence, rape, and have lost all their posessions. To make matters worse, many children were separated from their parents, making them a vulnerable and easy target. Most people fleeing South Sudan either live in the camps in Sudan or in neighboring countries such as Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, and more.

A South Sudan woman inside an informal camp for refugees
Source: Ingebjørg Kårstad/NRC

Response Aid and Efforts:

Multiple organizations are lending these refugees a helping hand. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) supports these communities by supplying a water, sanitation, and hygiene program, child protection services, health and nutrition services, and livelihood assistance. In addition, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been building safe shelters, conducting awareness campaigns, and establishing a safe haven for South Sudanese refugees.

A mother and her child receiving vital healthcare from the IRC
Source: Noory Taha

While conditions in South Sudan aren’t safe enough for refugees to be encouraged to return, people are hoping that one day it will be. Unfortunately, the government’s position seems to be becoming increasingly fragile as President Kiir’s influence over key political figures continues to weaken. Political tension and violence are still going strong to this day, and it does not seem to be slowing down.

Call to Action:

In order for these refugees to return home to a peaceful and safe environment, the whole world needs to be aware of this crisis. Not enough people know about the dangers that the civilians of South Sudan are facing, and in order to make an impact and hopefully put an end to this violence, the whole world needs to advocate for the safety of South Sudan citizens. We must raise our voices collectively and raise awareness to this issue, so that South Sudanese refugees have a place to return home without living their lives in constant fear.