A five-strong team will leave France at the end of the week to supply aid to displaced people in South Sudan, where violent clashes between armed groups have forced almost 200,000 people to flee their towns and villages. The inhabitants of South Sudan - one of the poorest countries in the world - already live in extreme poverty and need immediate aid to survive.
“South Sudan is sliding towards civil war. That’s obviously going to put a lot of strain on the most vulnerable individuals,” explains Lucile Papon, the manager of Handicap International’s operations in the region. The fragile peace prevailing in South Sudan since it proclaimed independence in July 2011 has broken down. An upsurge in fighting between government and opposition forces has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. According to the United Nations, there are more than 200,000 displaced people in South Sudan, including 76,000 in the region of Bor, to the north of the capital Juba. United Nations forces have already come under attack, making it impossible to guarantee the safety of the relatively small number of displaced people – 57,000 – who have found shelter in the camps. Despite a lull in the conflict in Juba this week, the overall situation remains extremely volatile and there are regular outbreaks of fighting.
Handicap International’s staff - who were working in South Sudan long before the present crisis - were forced to break off their work and some teams had to be evacuated. Handicap International’s offices in Bor – like most NGO’s – were completely destroyed. A five-strong team will travel to Juba between now and Sunday to reopen the offices and identify the needs of the most vulnerable refugees. “We’re extremely concerned about the lack of facilities on the ground and the difficulty of getting through to people, which has led to a severe shortage of basic necessities, such as food, accommodation and care,” explains Lucile. “We’re focusing on the most vulnerable individuals. When there’s a breakdown in law and order, they’re always the first to suffer because they can’t travel, making it difficult to access the aid they need.”
Handicap International, which regularly operates under difficult conditions, plans to supply aid to these individuals via its DVFP’s (Disability and Vulnerability Focal Points). The DVFP’s will identify the most vulnerable people and supply them with direct aid (care, distributions, etc.) or refer them to other humanitarian organisations in South Sudan. Handicap International may also provide those injured in the fighting with rehabilitation care. “It’s really important to care for the injured and to follow them up correctly, otherwise their health could deteriorate or they could develop permanent disabilities,” explains Lucile. “When we begin evaluating the situation over the next few days, we’ll get a clearer idea of their needs and respond accordingly.”
Handicap International first deployed a team in what is now South Sudan in 2006. Displaced people and refugees returning to their region of origin, which had been devastated by fighting, were facing a serious emergency. These emergency actions have now evolved into longer-term projects.