Over a million people have now crossed the border into South Sudan since April 2023, seeking safety and a place to stay. Sudan, the country they left behind, continues to be devastated by war.
For those arriving in South Sudan, either as refugees or returnees (those originally from South Sudan who are now returning) the story remains same. They’ve made long journeys, sometimes in the back of a truck, and have left everything behind – often arriving with nothing more than the clothes they’re wearing.
Christian Aid, through local partners, is helping people arriving in South Sudan. They are providing emergency cash grants with funding from the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund. Cash grants have been distributed to more than 5000 people, with help from our partner Coalition for Humanity.
People in Sudan are in crisis. We cannot allow them to be forgotten.
What's currently happening?
Thanks to additional funds (£100,000), confirmed this week, we can now double this support - with another 5000 people due to receive emergency cash over the coming weeks.
The project will also include activities to reduce gender-based violence, allowing women and girls to feel safer.
Alice Denis Apio from Coalition for Humanity says they make sure the most vulnerable people are prioritised:
It feels like a forgotten crisis which is receiving limited coverage in the news, but the UN has repeatedly warned that nearly two years of conflict has created the world’s biggest displacement crisis.
Famine conditions have been confirmed in five areas of Sudan, including North Darfur. Neighbouring countries, like South Sudan, are absorbing huge numbers of people into their own fragile populations.
The funding from the Scottish Government is making a huge difference during a challenging time. For many people this cash assistance is quite literally life changing and provides a glimmer of hope.
Read our December blog on our work with the Scottish Government's Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) and funding for South Sudan.
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How will these grants support people?
Mary Amira Abdullah has recently come to South Sudan with her family. They are living in Arweil, in the local community.
Mary told us she decided it was safer to leave Kartoum and move back to South Sudan. She says the cash assistance will make a huge difference.
South Sudan Country Director James Wani says the funding from the Scottish Government has been timely and impactful:
Emergency cash grants allow people, who’ve fled from unimaginable trauma, to lift themselves out of the dire situations that they’re in. To buy food, medicine and the things they need to live – and perhaps to start a small business or pay for their children to go to school. We’re grateful to the Scottish Government for its ongoing support and the additional funding. At the same time we can’t ignore the immense humanitarian challenges facing South Sudan – food insecurity, conflict and climate change impacts – these continue, and the world must not look away.
Find out more about our work with the Scottish Government's Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF), which helps Christian Aid and partners deliver urgent support to some of our most vulnerable global neighbours.
A path forward for South Sudan
The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan is complicated and has many causes including conflict and climate change.
Millions of people urgently need help and the situation is still unstable. However, there is hope that South Sudan can move towards a more stable and secure future, with ongoing international diplomatic action and humanitarian, peacebuilding and development partnerships which support locally led efforts to strengthen local communities.
Humanitarian aid is highly important in South Sudan. However, the government and local communities must also get involved to create lasting solutions. By working together, we can meet the urgent needs of those affected by the crisis. This will help us build a stronger and better future for the people of South Sudan.
