Southern Sudan is characterized by its relatively rich and abundant resource base as well as long and bitter civil wars and conflicts. The impact of these wars, particularly the last conflict which has lasted for the past 20 years, has resulted in widespread destruction of infrastructure and human lives; breakdown of vital social and economic services; and massive displacement of people across regions and into neighboring countries.
The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on January 9, 2005, by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Government of Sudan (GOS) brought an end to the conflict and brought with it a wave of hope for the development of the people of Southern Sudan. With the signing of this agreement, new opportunities for economic growth and development and opportunities for church growth has also emerged. The displaced Southern Sudanese have finally begun to return to their homes and started to rebuild their own communities.
However, the consequences of the long years of wars and conflicts and the religious and racial discrimination and economic marginalization of the South have devastated the livelihoods of the local people and have created tremendous social, economic, spiritual needs that are beyond the capacity of the Sudanese to cope with. Consequently, it has opened vast opportunities for Food for the Hungry and other agencies to support the Southern Sudanese in their own effort to development.
Food for the Hungry started operation in Southern Sudan in 2001, with a partner organization, mainly in emergency relief activities. We worked independently in late 2004 with a staff base of three people, which has since grown to more than 40 staff.
How we are meeting needs in Southern Sudan
Agriculture and Food Security
Food for the Hungry works with families in the Eastern Upper Nile to improve availability of food and facilitate reintegration of nearly 5,000 returning families. This includes distribution of seeds, farming tools, training of farmers through demonstration farms, cooking lessons to introduce new vegetables, and distribution of fishing equipment. This program also focuses on environmental awareness and planting trees.
Education
Educational opportunities are very limited in Southern Sudan with less than 25 percent of the Southern Sudanese children attending schools. Food for the Hungry focuses on the promotion of both formal and non-formal education systems for expanding educational opportunities for returnees and host communities, particularly women and girls. As a result of this program 1,800 school-age children were able to go to school and 100 teachers were trained. Five primary schools were built, and school materials were supplied to the schools and students. Children receive school materials and food while in school.
Church Development
Food for the Hungry recognizes the crucial role church leaders play in meeting the spiritual and physical needs of a community. This program helps churches and adults who are not able to read and write by providing an adult literacy program and training in basic education such as reading and writing. Participants are selected through the local churches, and women and other disadvantaged groups (such as disabled people) are also included. Food for the Hungry distributes materials such as black boards, dictionaries, text books, exercise books, pens, T-shirts, and Bibles to beneficiaries. This program is temporarily suspended due to lack of funding but is considered to have great potential to increase the economic status of many communities in Southern Sudan.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Access to potable water and sanitation facilities is very low in Southern Sudan, further contributing to disease outbreaks and low productivity. Food for the Hungry helps communities and schools in Southern Sudan have access to clean water sources and sanitation facilities. More permanent solutions including boreholes are developed and existing water sources are rehabilitated and maintained. In addition, thousands of latrines have been built and distributed. Community members receive training in personal hygiene and preventive health practices, helping communities begin to live healthy.
Relief
Acute food shortages in many war-torn regions is addressed by funding relief interventions that provide families with food rations and grain/seed distributions for relief until the next major harvest.
HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care
Sudan now has the highest infection rate in the Middle East and North Africa – 400,000 infected as of 2005 – and that has forced the government to take the disease seriously. Food for the Hungry helps address this epidemic by educating families on HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support. Counseling is also provided for those affected by the disease.
