Action Against Hunger Providing A Glimmer of Hope In A Troubled Region

For 12-year-old Nyadat Pet, April 15th, 2023, will forever remain a dark day in her life. This was when everything changed – for the worse as her life turned upside down.

Nyadat was playing with friends near their home on the outskirts of Khartoum when she heard sporadic gunfire and blasts. For the next two days, the bombings and gunfire became more frequent and closer to their home.

Her parents decided to seek refuge outside the capital. Together with her three siblings, and several neighbors, they left their home in the wee hours of the morning. Nyadat recalls that they were near the outskirts of Khartoum when she heard a huge bang. It was a bomb exploding in the vicinity.

Screams and smoke rent the air, and Nyadat and her siblings lose contact with their parents in the resulting confusion. They lived under a tree for nine days, enduring daily rainfall and scavenging for food. Her brother fell ill, and they could only hope he got better. They were later rescued by a caravan of South Sudanese escaping the violence in the capital and taken to the border town of Renk in South Sudan.

A government boat arrived a few days late to transport returnees to their chosen destinations. Nyadak and her siblings boarded a boat bound for their village. Sadly, upon reaching their supposed home, they found themselves unrecognized and unknown by anyone in the area. Having nowhere to go, well-wishers directed them to Action Against Hunger returnees support facility in New Fangak.

Since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, Fangak County in South Sudan has received an influx of returnees across its northern border, with the majority settling in New Fangak. The village of New Fangak has been severely affected by floods and conflicts, which have depleted the livelihoods of its inhabitants. The influx of returnees has overburdened local resources and made settlement challenging. Moreover, essential services such as healthcare, food, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)-related infrastructure are stretched to their limits, resulting in inadequacy and the prevalence of diseases. These conditions contribute to acute malnutrition among the population.

In response to this situation, Action Against Hunger, through support from the EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid, stepped in to support the local community and returnees with life-saving interventions. These interventions include; distributing multipurpose cash assistance, providing wash kits containing items like soaps, buckets, plastic sheets, and aqua tabs, as well as constructing temporary latrines to reduce open defecation.

According to Lorjock Riak, Program Manager at Action Against Hunger, South Sudan, hundreds of returnees are arriving daily and in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

“Immediately the conflict in Sudan started, we developed a crisis response plan for returnees coming into South Sudan. With this plan, we hope to provide long-term support to returnees. Our current focus, however, is on the immediate need to deliver humanitarian assistance.” ?Notes Lorjock

Once at the camp, Nyadak and her siblings were registered by Action Against Hunger and provided with temporary shelter and humanitarian assistance. Her brother was transfered to the local health center run by Action Against Hunger for treatment and care.

They have since been adopted by another family who look after them as they wait on word about their parents. Nyadak has been enrolled in the cash transfer program to aid in purchasing essential supplies for herself and her siblings. ?

The Radiant smile on Nyadak and thousands of returnees at the Action Against Hunger temporary shelter speaks volumes. Though they still have painful memories, Action Against Hunger is giving them a glimmer of hope.?