On 16 July, days after South Sudan celebrated its 15th anniversary of independence, the Rt Revd Joseph Aba Nicanor, the Bishop of the Diocese of Liwolo in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, has issued an 'Urgent Humanitarian Appeal for Emergency Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons’ amid rising conflict in South Sudan.
As a nation, South Sudan has suffered much conflict and unrest since its birth in 2011 and formerly, as part of Sudan. Peace only lasted for a short time after the division of the two countries and the impact of past and present conflict continues to result in widespread displacement, violence, corruption and other disruptions to daily life.
The appeal – issued as a letter from the Diocesan office and on the church’s social media channels - references recent armed hostilities that have caused the large-scale displacement of an estimated 10,000 civilians in Liwolo Payam, Kajokeji County, Central Equatoria State, along the South Sudan-Uganda border.
It states that this followed an ‘attack by the Uganda People Defense Forces (UPDF) and Andejo garrison of the South Sudan’s People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) on Tuesday, 15 July’ and an ‘imminent planned attack of Pure and Goloko’, stating that ‘thousands of innocent civilians have fled their homes in fear for their lives’.
The appeal relays that the displaced people include ‘children, women, elderly persons and other vulnerable individuals’. Many are living in ‘overcrowded conditions with urgent needs for food, clean drinking water, emergency shelter, blankets, cooking utensils, clothing, sanitation facilities, medicines and protection services.’ They are taking refuge in a variety of places, including around St Paul Cathedral in Sokare Boma, at an archdeaconry headquarters and in a Primary School
The appeal warns that families have been sleeping in the open without adequate shelter, exposing children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, older people and persons with disabilities to ‘hunger, disease, trauma and harsh weather conditions’.
It lists some priority humanitarian needs, which include food assistance, safe drinking water, emergency shelter materials, blankets, sleeping mats and mosquito nets, medical supplies, healthcare services and psychosocial and trauma support.
The appeal concludes: ‘We respectfully call upon the national government, humanitarian organisations, the international community, churches and compassionate individuals to respond urgently to this unfolding humanitarian crisis.’
More information
See the appeal for humanitarian aid from Bishop Joseph on the Diocese of Kajo-Keji Facebook page.
See the recent message of solidarity and support on the anniversary of the independence of South Sudan from the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo (former Bishop of Kajo-Keji).
See the recent statement from the Archbishop of South Sudan regarding the independence anniversary of South Sudan.
