South Sudan's Most Vulnerable Face, Hard Struggles In World's Youngest Country
By Brian McAfee
30 December, 2013
Countercurrents.org
Latest reports now indicate that about 34,000 South Sudanese civilians have sought refuge in United Nations missions in Juba and Bor. South Sudan, having only recently come into existence as an independent nation, July 9, 2011, has a population of 11,367,276 (worldpopulationreview.org).
Since fighting broke out on December 15 about 500 are thought to be killed and about 800 wounded. It began when former vice president Riek Machar had been fired from his position this past July, and Machar's attacks against the South Sudan military and President Salva Kiir's responses appear to have primarily only resulted in tens of thousands of the civilian population left in desperate situations, many homeless with injuries, and possibly thousands of orphans.
One of the more alarming attacks was the one that occurred on Dec. 20 in which 20 Dinka (a native ethnic group) were killed in an attack on a UN compound where the Dinka were being sheltered from just such attacks. Despite this singular case, the UN and UN peacekeepers are and will be an indispensable element for a safe and secure South Sudan.
Some demographics: 82% of SS is Christian, 18 Islamic. Primary natural resources, copper, chromium ore, zinc, mica, silver, gold and diamonds. One problem area (in which South Sudan is definitely not alone) is access to drinkable water.
While it seems about half the population do have relatively easy access to water many, too many, do not. This is a fundamental rights issue that people should bear in mind for everyone.
I urge and appreciate any consideration of people donating to those in need to include the people of this country. In relation, I suggest the UNHCR, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees at 1-855-808-6427 , Another excellent charity doing excellent work in the area is OXFAM at 1 (800) 776-9326, [email protected]. Yet another is Doctors Without Borders at 1-888-392-0392.
If you have any thoughts or comments on this topic, please feel free to write to me at [email protected].
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