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Abouk Dut is 100 miles from her home in Abyei as she stands in line to receive food rations from Christian humanitarian organization World Concern. Despite having left everything behind and living under a small plastic tarp that floods when it rains, Abouk’s face lights up with hope as she talks.
“The South Sudan government will pay attention to the people of Abyei, and help us go home. We are excited to be a part of this new nation,” she said.
Abouk is among tens of thousands of people who fled violence in disputed border regions in recent months. As South Sudan celebrates its official independence from the north tomorrow, July 9, 2011, World Concern is responding to the massive humanitarian crisis that has left many of South Sudan’s newest citizens homeless and hungry.
World Concern staff members are assisting displaced families in Warrap and Western Bahr El Ghazal states. The organization’s security staff has made contingent evacuation plans, in case violence breaks out during nation-wide celebrations on the ninth.
World Concern is providing a month’s supply of sorghum, oil, beans and salt to people arriving in already strained host communities. Temporary schools are also being set up in tents so more than 4,000 displaced children can be in school. Long-term support will include agricultural assistance, education, and developing small savings groups.
Only 1.9% of South Sudan’s population has completed primary school, and only 1% of households have a bank account.
For more information about World Concern’s work in South Sudan, visit www.worldconcern.org/feedsudan.
