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With over 2.8 million people in need of urgent humanitarian action and more than one in four children in South Sudan severely malnourished, the proceeds of this year’s Concern Summer Raffle will go towards providing life-saving food to children in South Sudan.
As one of the world’s youngest countries, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in July 2011 after Africa’s longest-running civil war. However, independence didn’t bring peace and conflict has been raging in South Sudan since December 2013. Tentative peace talks in 2015 led to a deal and government officials are in the early stages of forming a coalition government, which will hopefully bring an end to the horrific suffering endured by the people of South Sudan.
The years of conflict and instability have taken their toll on the people of South Sudan – millions have been forced to flee from their homes and seek shelter in temporary camps. Currently more than 2.2 million people are displaced within the country, with an estimated 166,000 people living in camps on UN bases and another 632,000 are seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.
While the refugee camps offer shelter and safety, they are often affected by flooding, food scarcity, poor sanitation and overcrowding. Furthermore, conditions often restrict inhabitants from working, affecting their ability to look after and feed their families. Unfortunately it is often young children who are most vulnerable.
Concern is working with displaced families and malnourished children in UN refugee camp in Bentiu, as well as distributing food and vouchers to displaced families and treating malnourished children in the camps in Juba. With more than one in four children in South Sudan severely malnourished we are determined to provide life-saving food and nutrition to children in need, such as Chan, who was treated by our team in South Sudan.
Seven-month-old Chan, pictured below, was brought to a Concern-supported health centre by his mother, Madina, who feared for his life. He weighed just 11 pounds – shockingly underweight for his age – and was suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Chan desperately needed food to save his life and, thankfully, we were able to provide him with the emergency food he needed to survive. Chan is now healthier and it is visible from the picture below that he is happier and enjoying life as any seven-month-old baby should.
The proceeds of this Concern Summer Raffle go towards supporting our work providing life-saving food to children – like Chan – suffering from malnutrition in South Sudan. There are great prizes to be won in this year’s raffle and more importantly, the cost of one raffle ticket – just €3 – is enough to feed a child for four days and save their life. By taking part in the raffle you will help us continue our work with children in the one of the world’s poorest communities.
More children in South Sudan go hungry than anywhere else in the world – they need your support.
