South Sudan currently sits in one of the worst humanitarian crises in our day and age. Though it is not largely spoken about, millions have been displaced from their own country and countless people have lost their lives. Located in East-Central Africa, it is the world’s youngest nation having claimed independence in 2011. However, just two years after voting for independence, civil war began. In 2016, the war turned from civil to civilians as fighting broke out within villages. Within just a few months, hundreds of thousands were forced to flee. Many left everything behind.
Uganda opened its arms wide to receive over half of the two million + South Sudanese refugees seeking safety and asylum. Thousands of children crossed the border without parents, and thousands more parents crossed without their children. The United Nations named it as “an unprecedented mass influx of refugees,” meaning they never could have predicted such numbers. It is also said to be a “protracted crisis”, meaning that they do not know when the war will end.
For all the talk- and ignorance- of war, there still remains an abundant amount of hope. Many people wave their hands at conflicts, saying it is just another war. Another story. Another country.
We say no.
We say there is hope.
And we say it is found
in the children.
Why South Sudan?
Because half a million children are displaced by war. Because it has been a conflict that has raged for far too long to remain silent. Because a different path forward is possible. Because the hope spoken of on Independence Day in July 2011 still exists.