SOUTH SUDAN: Displaced civilians struggle to cope in refugee camps as the rainy season sets in

Record ID: 346972

  • Title: SOUTH SUDAN: Displaced civilians struggle to cope in refugee camps as the rainy season sets in
  • Date: 19th March 2014
  • Summary: JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CAMP FLOODED WITH RAIN WATER GARBAGE BINS NEAR MAKESHIFT TENTS WOMAN WADING THROUGH WATER GIRL WASHING CLOTHES/ CHILDREN LOOKING ON CHILDREN SEATED OUTSIDE TENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) SIMON LUAL, DISPLACED CIVILIAN, SAYING: "A woman can just hold a child, while the other things like items and clothes are just being taken by
  • Embargoed: 3rd April 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Sudan
  • Country: South Sudan
  • Topics: Conflict,Weather,Health,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA17LSI3AGOUYF2KAZA93JXW139
  • Story Text: People fleeing conflict in South Sudan are struggling to cope in refugee camps as the rainy season sets in.
    At a refugee camp in Juba, flood waters stand still in the compound, providing perfect breeding ground for malaria carrying mosquitoes.
    The rainy season usually starts in April, and the UN says about 60 percent of roads will be impassable until October, affecting relief efforts in the country.
    Aid agencies warn that waterborne diseases could pose a threat to those seeking safety in camps. A combination of rain and lack of proper sanitation could result in diarrhoea and other diseases like cholera and malaria in a situation where living conditions already prove difficult.
    "A woman can just hold a child, while the other things like items and clothes are just being taken by the floods. So it is really getting worse to women who have no husband here, and it is totally something that I can't even mention," said Simon Lual, a resident at the camp.
    According to UN reports, about one million people have been displaced by violence within South Sudan since the start of a political crisis last year.
    The world's newest state came close to all-out civil war on December 15, when soldiers from rival ethnic groups clashed in the capital Juba. While a ceasefire was struck on January 23, it has since been frequently violated and new talks have faltered.
    Thousands have died in nearly four months of fighting which was often fought along ethnic lines, according to the United Nations and both sides are accused of carrying out atrocities.
    Over 200,000 thousand civilians have also fled into neighbouring countries Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan and Kenya. Many remain reluctant to return home and others say they have lost everything.
    ''I was living in Kor William, and our house was looted by the SPLA soldiers, and now they live in our house, they took the furniture, they stole everything, they didn't leave anything for us. Not even clothes,'' said Alisa Joseph, a displaced civilian.
    Children who have had to flee their homes are living in very difficult conditions with little access to food, shelter and clean water, according to UK charity, Save the Children. Many of those displaced are also malnourished.
    ''Even if we put them (the children) in tents, the water still enters, there is no solution. The situation here is as you can see, more than this...bad things happen here, the children are sick. But god is generous,'' said Ashol, another displaced civilian.
    The U.N. humanitarian appeal for South Sudan is more than $1 billion short of a target of $1.27 billion by June.
    East African states have agreed in the meantime to deploy troops in South Sudan by mid-April to help enforce a ceasefire deal between government forces and rebels.
    Negotiations in Ethiopia meant to thrash out a deal on political reform, are now due to resume on March 20.
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