As Sudan conflict rages on, challenges hits displaced communities

Renk October 21, 2023 - Nearly 230,000 refugees who have fled over the border into South Sudan since the crisis began in neighbouring Sudan in April, 36-year-old Achol Tach is one the expectant mother who arrived with little more than the clothes on her back.

Two days after giving birth, Achol received the Unconditional Cash Transfer providing her with the means to buy essential supplies such as soap and paying the midwife. She, like hundreds of thousands now resides at the Ziro Refugee camp in Renk, one of the numerous temporary camps in South Sudan where refugees and returnees reside before they are transported to their places of origin within South Sudan.

“I thank God because I was so lucky when I reached here. I delivered of a baby boy 2 days after receiving the 90,000 SSP from Oxfam. I used the money to buy essential supplies like soap, lotion, towels and paid the midwife. It came just in time. Although my husband remained behind, I was cared for” explained Achol.

Achol’s story is one of many. At the camp, there are close to 1000 families each comprising with six members New mothers like Achol face tough challenges and environment where living conditions and access to health is limited. Oxfam and other aid agencies have responded to the Sudan crisis by setting up temporary health centres to help expectant mothers and children both at the Transit centre and refugees camps like Ziro.

During our visit, we observed that throughout the day, these camps are predominantly occupied by women, girls, and children while the men and youth venture the streets of Renk looking for any type of work and activity that can generate income. The situation is more difficult for widows who don’t have any support.

While in Renk, we also met Tereza Ajak Bol,55 who came from Omdurman in Sudan. Her only son has been paralysed by unknown sickness and requires constant assistance.

Sharing her situation. Tereza said “I have a sick son and when I got the money from Oxfam, I immediately took him for treatment and bought some sorghum and sauce. My biggest challenge is taking care of a sick son. Everything I get every day is always for his treatment. His father was shot on our way to South Sudan, and he didn’t get a decent burial”.

Health issues and diseases are common in the camps with illnesses such as malaria, typhoid, diarrhea, common cold, and snake bites among others sickness. Some returnees have stayed longer in the camps due to delays by government transportation or some are just too weak to undertake the journey.

With support from the Scottish Government, Oxfam has reached nearly 713 households with cash assistance – reaching over 4,200 individuals – at the border area of Upper Nile in South Sudan, allowing them to access lifesaving food and other essential.

Aburi Alison, Roving Emergency Food Security and Livelihood team leader responsible for the project said that the local residents expressed how they used the support from Oxfam by buying essential supplies that kept them safe until transportation to their final destination.

The Scottish Government’s welcome funding has provided some of the most vulnerable people – including pregnant women and the elderly – with the money they needed to access life-saving essentials, like food and hygiene products.