Refugees In South Sudan (2015)

In July 2011, South Sudan became the world’s youngest country, gaining independence from northern Sudan after decades of war. For many, independence was a symbol of a promising future characterised by resolved political grievances, peace and overall development. However, South Sudan did not have the chance to grow. In December 2013 the governing party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) split and the country was engulfed in a power crisis. What started as a political disagreement between the President, Salva Kiir and his then deputy, Riek Machar, quickly spiralled into an ethnic war leading to the death of thousands of women, children and men. Over 2.2 million people have fled their homes because of the violence, around 1.6 million people have sought safety in other parts of South Sudan and over half a million now live as refugees in neighbouring countries, mainly Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya. Currently, South Sudan faces a food security crisis. The UN estimates that 2.8 million people are in need of emergency food assistance. The war has driven people from their homes, preventing them from cultivating their fields. Many people are missing meals and are being forced to sell their limited assets for food. The country is spiraling into an economic free-fall characterised by high food and fuel prices and an ever-rising cost of living.