PRODUCTION, CINEMATOGRAPHY, EDITING & PHOTOGRAPHY: AMANDA VOISARD | PRODUCED FOR: UN MISSION SOUTH SUDAN
SOUTH SUDAN REFUGEE CRISIS
Less than a decade after gaining independence South Sudan remains gripped by a violent conflict. In 2013, just two years after succeeding from Sudan, internal strife between rival factions of the ruling political parties exploded into civil-war. Stories of horrific atrocities – murder, rape, looting, disease, burning homes and famine – continue to plague the people of this war-torn nation with an estimated 400,000 having been killed so far.
The heavily armed conflict has resulted in 30-40% of the population being displaced, with more than 2 million fleeing to neighboring countries and 2 million more internally displaced (IDP). As a result, more than 14,000 United Nations peacekeepers, police, security and civilian personnel from close to 60 different countries have been stationed within the country to deter violence against civilians. Many of those who were forced to flee the violence but remain in the country have moved closer to UN compounds and taken residence in Protection of Civilian (PoC) sites located across the country. The largest camp is located outside the UN Bentiu compound, with over 150,000 registered.
The South Sudan refugee crisis is the largest in Africa and the third largest refugee crisis in the world. In 2017, Uganda was hosting more than 1.2 million refugees. On average, 2000 individuals a day were arriving from South Sudan alone resulting in an enormous strain being placed on the humanitarian response. At times food rations were reportedly cut in half due to the surge in residents.
As civilians continue to flee fighting in South Sudan, the humanitarian situation in Uganda and other neighboring countries has also become dire. With no end in sight to the conflict in their home country, the future for families seeking food and shelter at home and across borders looks uncertain.
Nyawar, 70, lays in her bed days after being raped while collecting firewood outside the Protection of Civilians site next to the United Nations base in Malakal, South Sudan. The UNMISS human rights team went to monitor her situation and collect her testimony about the recent incident. Nyawar said this was the third time she has been raped in her life, this time by a solider young enough to be her grandson. She said the trauma left her fearing to ever return to the bush despite the collection of firewood being her only lifeline. The refugee crisis in East Africa has reached historic levels.
FILM
South Sudanese children wait to be processed at the Busia collection point near the Uganda/South Sudan border. The final entry for those fleeing the war into Uganda is only a small wooden foot bridge that divides the countries. The young refugees are seen on Friday, 23 June, 2017 in Busia, Uganda.
