"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.
“South Sudan is one of the poorest and least developed nations in the world, and the influx of refugees is placing enormous strain on already scarce resources.” Fran Equiza, Oxfam’s Regional Director in Horn, East and Central Africa
Boston, MA – infoZine – Six months since South Sudan’s independence, the world’s newest nation is struggling to cope with a major refugee crisis and massive internal displacement, international agency Oxfam said today.Tens of thousands of people have fled violence in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan across the border in Sudan, and an estimated 60,000 people have also reportedly been affected by last week’s fighting in the South Sudan state of Jonglei.
Over 55,000 refugees have arrived in Upper Nile state in South Sudan in recent months, fleeing conflict in Sudan’s Blue Nile region. More people continue to arrive and are sheltering in newly established refugee camps where food and other essential services are in short supply. Oxfam is boosting its water and sanitation work for 25,000 of the new arrivals.
The worsening conflict along the border between Sudan and South Sudan has led to growing fears of a major food crisis, as insecurity has restricted local agriculture and limited aid and market supplies. Parts of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile are expected to reach emergency levels in early 2012, with early warning systems predicting that food insecurity will reach Phase 4 of 5 – one step below famine levels. Such a crisis is likely to force more refugees into South Sudan, Oxfam said. Around 20,000 people have already fled Southern Kordofan, and thousands more are displaced within the region. Due to conflict and insecurity, many of the rural areas on both sides of the new border remain inaccessible to humanitarian organisations.
“It is six months since South Sudan’s independence and there is much we should be celebrating. But the growing crisis along the border threatens to derail any progress. South Sudan is one of the poorest and least developed nations in the world, and the influx of refugees is placing enormous strain on already scarce resources,” said Fran Equiza, Oxfam’s Regional Director.
Oxfam called on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and ensure humanitarian aid can reach all people in need.
PaanLuel Wël is a South Sudanese blogger, writer and media entrepreneur who runs a popular online media platform called PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers various topics related to South Sudan and the world. PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd is a website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. It was founded in 2011 by PaanLuel Wël and a group of South Sudanese bloggers and writers who wanted to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue. The website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël, one of the most influential and respected voices in the South Sudanese media landscape, is a proud son of South Sudan who strives to contribute to the development and prosperity of his country and people. He is passionate about promoting the values of democracy, human rights, peace and development in South Sudan and beyond. He believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups. He is an advocate for freedom of expression and access to information as fundamental rights for all citizens. PaanLuel Wël hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.