The refugee camp of Juba is run by the Salesians of the parish of St Vincent-de-Paul and currently hosts 9,742 people, most of whom are women without husbands besides the children, the elderly, and the orphans. The camp was established in January 2014, after the outbreak of the civil war in December 2013.
Funding from Salesian Missions helped support 230 vulnerable people in the camp for two months. Those who received food assistance and other supplies were mostly orphans, widows and widowers, families with children, people with psychological disorders and depression, and other fragile groups. Each person received 20 kg of ground flour, 1 kg of salt, 3 liters of cooking oil and 5 kg of beans per month. They also received soap and other supplies of personal hygiene.
Food support is important because the prices of cereals and legumes are at record high levels, up to 400% above the average costs. The drop in petroleum prices has paralyzed the government's social services sector and negatively impacted the population. The humanitarian situation in the country is expected to worsen in the coming months due to the pandemic, the invasion of desert locusts, continued inter-community violence and cattle raids which, only in states like Jonglei, Unity and Warrap have caused the displacement of over 5,000 people.
“We are truly grateful to our donors, who help us ensure that the Salesian missionaries who care for the most vulnerable have the food and supplies they need,” said Fr Gus Baek, the director of Salesian Missions USA. “The internally displaced persons because of the ongoing violence in South Sudan are among the most vulnerable. They have lost everything, and they turn to the Salesian missionaries for security in this difficult time. The Salesians are there to provide shelter and all that is needed, to help them fulfill a plan for the future."
South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but faced an ongoing civil war that led to a terrible humanitarian crisis, even before the coronavirus pandemic. Responding to the civil war is nothing new for Salesian missionaries in South Sudan, who carry out support programs for the population throughout the country.
