South Sudanese Community in US Pleads for UN Intervention in Refugee Food Crisis

South Sudanese Community in US Pleads for UN Intervention in Refugee Food Crisis

South Sudanese immigrant families residing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, are making fervent appeals to the United Nations (UN) to reinstate food rations for refugee camps in Western Ethiopia. The UN ceased food distribution in these camps five months ago, leading to a rise in the risk of starvation among the refugee population.

David Jal, a Sioux Falls local and South Sudanese immigrant, is spearheading this call for urgent intervention. He has taken his plea to the UN, the Ethiopian government, and its Prime Ministry, emphasizing the critical state of affairs in the refugee camps. The refugees, Jal states, have already endured immense suffering and now face the looming threat of starvation.

South Sudanese Refugees in Ethiopia

The UN’s Refugee Agency, UNHCR, reports that violence and corruption in South Sudan have led to a mass exodus of 416,615 refugees fleeing to Ethiopia. The South Sudanese community in Sioux Falls is not only urging the UN to reinstate food distribution but also to address these root causes of displacement, particularly the corruption issue in their home country.

Jal underscores the resilience and strength of the South Sudanese community in the face of adversity. Nevertheless, he asserts that the refugees in the camps are in dire need of help to survive. Jal frames this as more than just a request for aid; he calls it a plea for humanity.

South Sudan: A Nation in Crisis

On a global scale, the international community is pressing for anticipatory and preventive measures to tackle the root causes of food crises. The number of people grappling with acute food insecurity and requiring urgent food assistance and livelihood support continues to alarmingly escalate. This makes it imperative to address the root causes of food crises proactively rather than merely responding post-crisis.

South Sudan has been embroiled in civil war since 2013, leading to more than 875,000 refugees fleeing to neighboring Uganda. The violence has divided the nation along ethnic lines, resulting in Africa’s largest refugee crisis since the Rwandan genocide. The crisis in South Sudan has also led to widespread hunger in the region, including Somalia, parts of Kenya, Ethiopia, and famine within South Sudan itself.

The Children: The Most Vulnerable Victims

Refugee camps are finding it increasingly challenging to provide for their inhabitants. For example, in Uganda, the United Nations was compelled to halve rations in refugee camps due to a funding crisis. This has forced many desperate refugees to resort to theft, further exacerbating tensions in the camps and potentially leading to violence.

In South Sudan itself, food shortages are heavily impacting the youngest population in refugee camps. The UNHCR has reported a rise in malnutrition rates among children in these camps. The food crisis is taking a toll on the health of children, many of whom are not receiving adequate care at home. With the onset of the rainy season, the situation is expected to worsen, making the need for intervention even more pressing.

The Plea for Humanity: A Call for Action

The South Sudanese community in the United States, along with their compatriots back home, continues to implore the UN and other international bodies to intervene. Their plea is not only for the reinstatement of food rations but also for long-term solutions to the root causes of the crisis – corruption and violence. As the situation escalates, the call for humanity grows louder, echoing the urgent need for international attention and action.