ReliefWeb

Overview

For many years, a child growing up in South Sudan had little hope of a future free of violence, malnutrition or illiteracy, due to the impact of decades of civil war. In January 2005, the desire for peace was renewed, when the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/SPLA) signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

In line with the agreement, the people of South Sudan in January 2011 held a referendum and the majority of the population voted in favour of independence from the North.

The much anticipated birth of the new Republic of South Sudan on 9 July 2011 ushers in a new era of opportunity and optimism. However, this new country in its infancy lies within a complex political, humanitarian and development landscape characterized by tense relations with the North and the potential for a further escalation of violence in the border region. This, coupled with continuing insecurity due to tribal clashes, cattle raiding, attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and fighting in the disputed border areas, are key factors that shape the everyday lives of children and women in South Sudan.

The humanitarian reality is multi-faceted. Throughout the first half of 2011 large numbers of South Sudanese (over 300,000) returned home. At the same time, more than 100,000 people were displaced due to border clashes with the North, as was the case in Abyei. Many of the returnees and displaced people arrive in areas with very limited basic social services, putting further strain on the resources. Malnutrition rates are persistently above the emergency threshold and are as high as 21 per cent in children under five in certain areas. Maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world, at 2,054 per 100,000 live births.

Humanitarian relief and development activities continue to be hampered by inaccessibility due to security restrictions, land mines, poor infrastructure, large areas that are inaccessible during rains and regular food and fuel shortages in parts of the country. The risk of escalating conflict, especially in the border areas, and the potential for a further increase in commodity and fuel prices are some of the key factors that may hinder progress in the near future.