South Sudan: Introducing the World’s Newest Country: The Republic of South Sudan
As one of the longest serving international NGOs in South Sudan, Medair continues to provide vital support to the people of this new nation at this momentous time in Africa’s history.
On 9 July, South Sudan officially became its own country, independent from Sudan’s northern states. For more than two decades, Sudan’s north and south engaged in a deadly civil war that ended in 2005 with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Today, six years later, the two regions will govern themselves independently of one another as two separate countries.
South Sudan enters nationhood facing a number of daunting challenges. The world’s newest nation is also one of its poorest. South Sudan needs support as it works to strengthen its almost non-existent essential services, including health care, education, infrastructure, and access to water and sanitation. Literacy levels are very low while malnutrition rates are very high. In addition, conflict in recent weeks has led to more than 100,000 people being displaced from their homes, magnifying the level of need in the country.
Furthermore, in the past year, hundreds of thousands of people have returned to South Sudan who had been living in Sudan’s northern states since the time of the civil war. However, these people are returning home to a new country that is chronically underdeveloped. They need water, sanitation, and health care, but these basic services are scarce.
In recent days, as independence day has drawn closer, the number of returnees has increased rapidly. Many returnees have started to arrive in Upper Nile state, an area where Medair already has bases and is well-positioned to respond with humanitarian aid.
Since 1991, Medair has responded to the needs of highly vulnerable people in South Sudan, with a special emphasis on women and children under five. We currently provide WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) and health services in Upper Nile State (Melut and Manyo counties), while our emergency response teams (ERTs) provide rapid, life-saving aid during crises across South Sudan's 10 states.
At present, Medair’s ERT is working in an area to the south of Abyei, improving access to WASH facilities for people who have been displaced by recent conflict in the area. Abyei is a border region whose ownership remains disputed between the north and the south. Medair is monitoring the current humanitarian situation closely, and remains committed to responding to emergency needs whenever possible.
“It’s a privilege for us to be present at such a turning point in the history of this part of Africa,” said Caroline Boyd. “We really want to help the people of South Sudan make that transition into a peaceful new country.”
For Media:
South Sudan
Stella Chetham - South Sudan Field Communication Officer
Tel. +249 907 204 228 E-mail fco-sds(at)medair.org
Medair Headquarters Switzerland
Janneke de Kruijf – Media Officer
Tel. +41.78.6353095
E-mail – janneke.dekruijf(at)medair.org
This media release was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.
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