The ongoing civil war in Sudan has displaced an estimated 12 million people, including over a million refugees in South Sudan. Survivors detail horrific experiences of violence, including sexual abuse of children and the killing of family members. Humanitarian organizations are providing support, but the need for sustainable peace and recovery remains urgent.
In South Sudan, an estimated 12 million individuals have been displaced due to the ongoing civil war that erupted in Sudan in April 2023. This displacement, which represents approximately one-third of the nation’s population, includes over one million refugees who have sought asylum in South Sudan. Regarded as the most significant displacement crisis worldwide, it risks being overshadowed by other global events.
Mary Atyeng, a mother of a three-month-old baby, recounted her harrowing escape from the violence that engulfed her village. “I ran away from the north because everyone was fighting, shooting guns and even using knives to slaughter (people),” she stated. She described how soldiers invaded her home, leading her to sacrifice her own safety for her husband’s. Tragically, she witnessed young girls abducted and men killed for resisting.
Similarly, Amiema Mohamad, who traveled from Khartoum to South Sudan with three small children, shared her traumatic experience, noting that “some family members were burned inside their house.” After losing her parents in the conflict, she is now struggling to provide for her family by collecting firewood for sale, contrasting sharply with her previous life.
Moussa Adem, a former student from Darfur, spoke of his brother’s assassination as a catalyst for his escape. He described the widespread violence, stating, “People are killing and stealing their things, they are threatening.” His journey to safety was fraught with fear and uncertainty as his village faced total destruction.
In response to this catastrophe, Concern Worldwide operates mobile clinics in the region, providing essential healthcare to the displaced. Public health expert Emillia Mutya remarked on the environment of hostility, attributing it to a long history of instability that has normalized violence as a means of resolving disputes. Social worker Robert Akol Garang highlighted the troubling rate of gender-based violence, noting that he treats up to 20 survivors daily. Despite the prevailing hardships, he believes that change is possible.
The continuing conflict in Sudan has led to a catastrophic level of displacement within South Sudan, with countless individuals, including vulnerable children, facing severe violence and abuse. Survivors like Mary Atyeng, Amiema Mohamad, and Moussa Adem provide harrowing accounts of their experiences, illustrating the urgent need for humanitarian support. Organizations like Concern Worldwide are critical in providing healthcare and support in the face of overwhelming trauma, yet the underlying issues of violence and instability require significant attention and intervention to foster lasting peace and recovery.
Original Source: www.irishexaminer.com
