Documentation of humanitarian action in South-Sudan

Two years after its independence in 2011, South Sudan, the youngest country in the world, faced an internal conflict opposing different ethnic groups struggling for power, resulting in the dramatic increase of the number of Internally Displaced Persons. Strategies of predation, consisting of looting cattle’s and harvest, led to a high level of insecurity all over the country.

In 2016, Wau, the third-largest town in South Sudan, was hit by violence between different ethnics which used to cohabitate well together. Thousands of people fled their home and sought refuge in the POC (Protection Of Civilians Site), protected by United Nations forces. Some NGO, such as the Johanniter International Assistance put in place some medical structures to help this affected population.

The region of Jonglei was also particularly hit by ethnics’ violence, leading to a lack of health and educational structures. The John Dau Foundation is working in this remote part of South-Sudan.

The FEED project, implemented by World Vision, Care and Oxfam, put in place an agriculture development program in different parts of the country, helping the local population to reach to food safety.

From 2017, I have been commissioned to document these various projects, to communicate about the challenges linked to the implementation of these programs, but also to highlight the positive impacts of their efforts.

Sud Soudan; South Sudan; NGO, Humanitarian, Africa, Afrique, ONG, Photo reportage, photo documentaire, Documentary

A displaced teenager is walking around the protection of civilians (POC) site of Wau. The POC was meant to be slowly emptied of its residents, as the security was supposed to be back in the region. The number of displaced people drop to 14,229 in April, after reaching around 60,000 at the height of the crisis. However, at the end of April, some violence occurred in the around Wau and the population of the POC is starting ton increase again. April 2019, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

A new wave of people just fled Jur River, a neighbouring area. In May, four thousand IDPs were waiting under plastic sheets for humanitarian assistance. They were hoping to access temporary shelters, where they could stay until their homeland be safe again. However, they will not cultivate during the rainy season this year, which might create a famine in the region next year. April 2019, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

John is a midwife and is taking care of Abuk Uchalla, who is in her first stage of labour. He has been working for more than a year in the maternity of Kangi. This maternity opened a year ago and is the only in the region. Abuk s is about to deliver her 10th children, and it’s the first time she is giving birth in maternity. Before she used to give birth at home, because there was no maternity around here village, Kayango, at four hours walk from the Kangi. April 2019, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

Juan Joice decided to become a nurse when she was very young and saw a nurse taking care of her mother when she was a refugee in Uganda. She came back from Uganda in 2009. She graduated in 2015, and she went to Wau to follow her husband. She started working for the Johanniter in 2017. “I am a mother, I treat children here as my own children”. April 2019, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

Apet Madut is around 23 years old, and she fled her home in Jur River with her four babies, her husband, and the second wife of his husband. Before, they used to be farmers and get money from burning charcoal. Recently, their harvest was looted, their house burnt. It took them four walking-days to reach Wau as they were coming with their children. April 2019, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

When Akon Mary brought Ngor, her 11 months old son, to the stabilization centre, he had diarrhea, and was vomiting, losing weight, and also had a fever. She was afraid Ngor would not survive, as he had lost so much energy. After 5 days at the stabilization centre, being monitored by the medical team, Ngor Garang recovered from diarrhea and fever, and he is now putting on weight. April 2019, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

Awut Akot is the second wife of the father of Wek, one year and a half. They left their home after being attacked by armed groups. When they ran away, they had to sleep in the bush, afraid to be attacked again. When they arrived at the Wau protection site, Wek was vomiting and was suffering from stomach pain. He also had malaria. April 2019, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

The newcomers of the Wau POC site use barbed wire as a clothesline. Most of the four thousand new arrivals left home without spare clothes. (for Johanniter International Assitance). April 2019, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

Every family needs to have their personal records with them, to receive the appropriate amount of plumpy sup. They are attending the JIA food distribution once a week. Decembre 2017, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

Justice came this morning to the stabilization centre as her son Joseph was feeling bad during the night. Here, she knows she will get a quick diagnostic for Joseph pain. If it is recommended, he will be hospitalized at the stabilization centre until he gets better. Decembre 2017, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

A staff member of the JIA is giving the accurate amount of plumpy sup to one of the beneficiaries of the food distribution. During this morning distribution, a few dozen families will benefit from these nutrition programs. Decembre 2017, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

A team of the Johanniter International Assistance are calculating the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) of a mother, to be sure she is not malnourished. Decembre 2017, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

Robert, 32, studied medicine in Uganda and is the doctor responsible for the stabilization centre. Daily, he auscultates the newborn and children. In the POC, the stabilization centre is highly appreciated by the displaced families, as it provides a quality free medical service. Decembre 2017, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

John Daniel, two years and five months, came two days ago to the stabilization centre. He was struck with fever. Him, his mother, Asunta Andrea, 27, and his two brothers and sister, moved to POC in 2016 after fleeing their home. Decembre 2017, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

After eight days sleeping at the stabilization centre, Adut and Opio are expecting to return to their home, and meet their partner and father, who is working as a policeman in Wau. Decembre 2017, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

A woman is coming back from the market. There, she purchased the necessary for cooking the lunch. In the POC a micro-society has emerged, and most of the necessary good scan be bought at the market. Decembre 2017, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

Adut, 20, arrived seven days ago at the stabilization centre. Opio, her 20 days son, was suffering from diarrhoea and cough. They live outside the POC, but her financial situation does not allow them to go to the public hospital. Decembre 2017, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

A woman is waiting for consultation outside the stabilization centre in the Protection Of Civilians (POC) site of Wau. Decembre 2017, Wau, Bar El Ghazal region, Johanniter International Assistance.

Recently, the John Dau Foundation invested in a boat to get access to IDPs which found refuge on the 47 islands of the Sudd wetland (one of the biggest wetland in the world). For the inauguration of this floating clinic », the JDF team navigated 24 hours on the Nile to access the village of Koyom, where it delivered food supplies, provided by the UNICEF and the WFP, to the malnourished population. February 2018, Bor, Jonglei State, The John Dau foundation.

A John Dau Foundation employe is loading the Foundation boat with food supplies. Recently, the John Dau Foundation invested in a boat to get access to IDPs which found refuge on the 47 islands of the Sudd wetland (one of the biggest wetland in the world). February 2018, Bor, Jonglei State, The John Dau foundation.

Leonard Korir, a clinical officer from the Kangor hospital, is taking care of Nyalat Nabior Yol, a 22 y.o patient, suffering from complications regarding her 26-week pregnancy. Nyalat, from the Nuer ethnics, has been looking for a medical structure for the last six days, and was finally brought to the John Day Foundation medical facility. February 2018, Twic-East County, Jonglei State, The Johan Dau foundation.

Regina Mathew, a member of the Asanza Farmer Field School (FFS) in Yambio county, is mulching pineapples with dry leaves she just collected. Mulching is part of the improved agronomical practices she learned at the FFS. March 2018, Yambio, Yambio county, World Vision.

Gloria is preparing tilapia fishes they caught in the morning at the fish pond. It will be served for dinner. In the town of Yambio, the FEED project encouraged farming men and women to develop fish farming activities. Gloria Santo joined the project in 2015 and was accompanied to dig a pond where she could farm fish. March 2018, Yambio, Yambio county, World Vision.

A farmer from the town of Torit recently benefited in good agriculture practices training and is harvesting the vegetables she cultivated following this training. March 2018, Torit, Torit County, Care.

Atak is sitting on 50kg groundnut bags she recently harvested with other members of her Farmer Field School (FFS). Each bag is worth 4,500 South Sudanese Pound (20 USD). Recently, the FEED project built a storage facility where the community can store and protect their products. March 2018, Aweil, Bahr el Ghazal, World Vision.

Helena Ayen is calling for more gender equality at a meeting of the Wulu Gediem gender empowerment group. The group (50 women and 25 men) participated in GBV prevention awareness sessions. During the sessions, women were encouraged to take the lead at a community level. March 2018, Rumbek, Lakes state, Oxfam.

Anuie Rose Wilson is weeding the pineapples plantation from the Gitikiri Farmer Field School (FFS), a few kilometres away from Yambio. The pineapples will be harvested in December and will generate revenue to her family. March 2018, Yambio, Yambio county, World Vision.