In Renk, South Sudan, 40 km south of the Sudanese border, I met a young boy – Miyok, who had been orphaned by the brutality of the Sudanese conflict. Miyok is one of at least 600,000 refugees who have fled to South Sudan since the conflict began a year ago. He now lives with his aunt in one of the two transit centers.
Despite a multitude of challenges, Miyok’s wish is simple but profound: to be educated and have the opportunity to realize his dream of becoming a doctor.
As international donors gathered this week in Paris, Miyok’s story resonated deeply. His dream not only represents his personal aspirations, but also embodies the collective hope of a nation striving for a better future.
A future which, however, remains uncertain. In Paris, donors pledged $2 billion to support millions of people in Sudan and host countries. While this is a very welcome measure, it is only half of the $4.1 billion needed to give people their next meal and what they need to survive and rebuild their lives.
To date, the conflict in Sudan has displaced at least two million people, triggering one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Neighboring countries – South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Egypt and Libya – are feeling the impact, whether due to limited resources, economic disruption or the risk of spillover of the conflict.
We have seen up to 1,500 people arrive in Renk each day, some on donkey carts, others crammed into overcrowded minivans, and those who cannot afford to travel walk for miles under a scorching sun to reach the border.
Many of those who have fled are women carrying nothing more than a small bundle of clothes on their backs and their children. Their eyes are filled with exhaustion, fear, and uncertainty about what the future holds.
Time and again when I met with Oxfam officials and partners in South Sudan, the phrase “perfect storm” was mentioned, summarizing the current challenges that have plunged the country further into poverty.
Even before war broke out in Sudan, South Sudan was already suffering from intercommunal conflict over resources and a climate crisis, which created a serious humanitarian crisis. Two-thirds of the population are in urgent need of food, with 35,000 people facing starvation. Nearly nine million people currently depend on aid to survive.
Although it contributes little to global carbon emissions, South Sudan has been hit hard in recent years by erratic weather patterns induced by climate change – severe droughts and boiling temperatures followed by heavy rains leading to severe flooding that continued to destroy property, infrastructure and crops. This situation, aggravated by an economic crisis, has had devastating effects on an already vulnerable population.
Worse still, the country’s main oil pipeline, which crosses neighboring Sudan, was damaged in February. With oil accounting for 90 percent of South Sudan’s revenue and the pipeline accounting for two-thirds of oil revenue, the loss of the pipeline puts the already fragile economy on the brink.
Despite the humanitarian and economic crisis in South Sudan and the growing influx of refugees from neighboring Sudan, aid has fallen to extremely low levels. In 2023, the UN appeal for South Sudan was cut in half, to $1.79 billion, but less than 4% of the target was met.
The resilience of the South Sudanese people has been tested repeatedly, but the difficulty of fully implementing the 2020 peace agreement risks jeopardizing the government’s legitimacy. This situation, coupled with an economic crisis, could further intensify the current violence.
To overcome this deep crisis, South Sudan needs three essential elements. First, an immediate injection of aid funds that not only focuses on short-term emergency assistance, but also prioritizes development that enables South Sudanese to break free from the vicious cycle of shocks and be able to rebuild their lives.
Second, while external support is crucial, the South Sudanese government should step up its efforts to lead, build basic infrastructure and provide essential public services to make the economy work for the South Sudanese people.
Third, and most importantly, as the country heads towards elections later this year, many people in South Sudan see this as a crucial step in addressing governance challenges, economic and humanitarian. Sustainable peace will help avoid the perfect storm and ensure a stronger South Sudan.
Amid the chaos, those who love this country, from government officials to local activists and partners, share the same determination to rebuild a nation torn apart by conflict and climate shocks.
Despite the many crises the world is currently experiencing, we must not turn our backs on the people of South Sudan and the refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan. We urge donors meeting in Paris this week to continue their momentum, immediately scale up the humanitarian response and renew their call for an immediate ceasefire and an inclusive peace process.
I left South Sudan heartbroken for Miyok and countless others whose futures hang in the balance. But I refuse to give up hope. We must all come together as partners in progress, empowering South Sudanese communities to chart their path to a better future.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.
