Source

Wednesday, May 09, 2012 • Melany Markham

In the middle of the Sudanese bush, 200km from the disputed border that runs between South Sudan and the country's northern neighbour lives a group of around 4,000 people.

Scattered among the trees, scrub and tall African grass, they live in newly built grass and mud huts, the so-called tukuls. They have little else except their homes - no food and no water - but these people have returned to the land they fled five years earlier.

Thomas Ekelund

It looks like any other school yard, any other school day. But it is actually the first school day in Camp Mbere, a refugee camp only a few kilometres from the Malian border in Mauritania. Suddenly a camera attracts the attention and hundreds of children sets of, screaming and laughing. Like any other children.

When Kasongo Mutshaila makes his way through the ocean of screaming children, he can´t help it but laughing. As being the representative in Mauritania Kasongo is heading the ACT Alliance LWF work camp management in camp Mbere. And he is proud.

George Arende

Welcome to Emukutan primary school, a place of learning that besides moulding and educating future leaders provides 160 children living in a drought-hit area their one and the only meal of the day.

Opened in 2006, this school located in a town at the southern end of Kenya’s Rift Valley, is close to the main road making it easy for students to reach, doing away with the need to walk miles to the nearest school.

As peace between the countries of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan flounders, the humanitarian consequences of this political brinksmanship are expected to mount in the coming months.

The UN estimates that at least four million people -- half the population -- will need food assistance, and a 20% increase in child mortality is anticipated if immediate action is not taken. Heightened insecurity has left less time for farming initiatives and resulting food production. Below average rainfall in some areas of South Sudan is also contributing to food shortages.