Political instability continues to cripple South Sudan

The Lutheran World Federation, a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches based in Geneva Switzerland – says there is complete lack of International attention on the unfolding humanitarian crisis in South Sudan.

The organisation says almost 1.5 million people have been forced to flee South Sudan and seek refugee status in neighbouring countries.

The endless misery that South Sudanese faced with women and children continue to bear the brunt of the conflict.

Hundreds are leaving their homes in fear of their lives. New trucks are arriving in Moyo, Uganda every day.

Each one bringing more refugees from South Sudan and it seems the world is turning a blind eye.

LWF Jesse Kamstra says: “I don’t know how many more thousands have to come and flee or die before the international community wakes up and realizes what is happening here on the ground.”

South Sudan has now become Africa’s largest refugee crisis and the world’s third largest after Syria and Afghanistan.

Refugee Rachel Makisa says:”There is no peace in our place right now that is why I came to this place, to Uganda. Right now I don’t have hope for our country because, there is fighting taking place in our place and right now I don’t know what exactly I saw, I don’t have hope for my life.”

Uganda has 740 000 refugees and the majority has come since July. It’s recognised widely as having progressive and forward thinking refugee policies.

South Sudan has not experienced peace since 2013 just two years after the country gained its independence.

The war caused by political rivalry between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and his former Deputy Riek Machar has driven more than 3 million people from their homes.

Former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon had warned that genocide was about to start in the country.

– By Lehana Tsotetsi