By Spy Uganda
South Sudan was established as a new country in 2011 after a deadly civil war. Unfortunately, only two years later, in 2013, conflict broke out in the new country, leading to a complex and dangerous situation of armed conflict, economic decline, disease and hunger. This conflict has forced millions to flee and left millions more displaced inside the country.
The vast majority (over 83 percent) of those fleeing South Sudan are women and children, with children making up 65 percent of the total South Sudanese refugee population. They are survivors of violent attacks, and sexual assault and, in many cases, children have been separated from their parents and are travelling alone.
The majority of South Sudanese refugees are living in neighbouring countries such as Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp and its expansion site, Kalobeyei settlement, host more than 148,000 South Sudanese refugees, one of the largest South Sudanese refugee populations in the world.
According to sources, part of the reasons for their flee is due to internal conflicts caused by some of the top gov’t and security officials. Some of those pinned in this include; Spy Chief Gen Akol Koor Kuc, Security Advisor NCP Tut Gatluak Manimne, and Dr Martin Elia Lumoro, among others.
Sources add that the secret behind these conflicts is to cause instability so that the said officials can milk the wealth of this country and probably invest it in their international ventures, no wonder S.Sudan, is currently one of the world’s poorest countries and ranks among the lowest in many socioeconomic categories.
This very country’s maternal mortality rate is among the world’s highest for a variety of reasons, including a shortage of healthcare workers, facilities, and supplies; poor roads and a lack of transport; and cultural beliefs that prevent women from seeking obstetric care. Most women marry and start having children early, giving birth at home with the assistance of traditional birth attendants, who are unable to handle complications.
Educational attainment is extremely poor due to the lack of schools, qualified teachers, and materials. Only one-third of the population is literate (the rate is even lower among women), and half live below the poverty line. Teachers and students are also struggling with the switch from Arabic to English as the language of instruction. Many adults missed out on schooling because of warfare and displacement.
As a result of the above, more than 2 million South Sudanese have sought refuge in neighboring countries since the current conflict began in December 2013. Another 2.2 million South Sudanese are internally displaced as of October 2022.
