The Red Cross is extremely concerned about the urgent health needs in South Sudan. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes by an increase in armed violence in the past several weeks. According to the United Nations, over 700,000 people have been displaced in South Sudan, with an additional 220,000 leaving the country as refugees.
Local Red Cross volunteers are working to support the needs of vulnerable communities. These activities include providing emergency first aid and delivering much-needed supplies like food and water.
To date, the Canadian Red Cross has deployed four medical personnel with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to help provide urgent medical care. With the support of the Government of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross has also provided a contribution of $30,000 to IFRC efforts in the region.
Despite the current situation in South Sudan, Canadian Red Cross longer-term development programming continues to be operational. This includes the Building Community Resilience project, which aims to reduce food insecurity, improve access to water and diversify the livelihoods of the people in Budi County, Eastern Equatoria. This project has reached the entire population of Komiri Payam, through household messaging, hygiene campaigns, farmer groups and trainings, seed and tool distributions and women’s group activities. This project is funded by the Canadian Red Cross and the Government of Canada.
Canadians who wish to support Red Cross efforts in South Sudan can make a donation to the Canadian Red Cross International Disaster Relief Fund. This fund allows us to accelerate our response in disasters and directly help the most vulnerable during times of emergencies. Your support provides us with dedicated funds to respond immediately following a disaster with essential supplies and trained personnel, so that we are able to save lives and ease suffering.