Responding to emergencies
Following independence in 2011, South Sudan was already one of the world's poorest nations even before the latest outbreak of fighting in 2013. Its infant and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world: one out of every seven children dies before reaching the age of five; one out of seven women will die in childbirth; and more than 20% of the population is undernourished.
The conflict that erupted in South Sudan in December 2013 has resulted in an enormous humanitarian crisis. Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity are the three states in South Sudan most affected by the crisis and have seen a great majority of the fighting and displacement. Consequently, CARE was well placed to respond to the extraordinary needs brought on by the crisis.
Despite on-going fighting and difficult conditions, CARE helped save thousands of lives by vaccinating children, digging latrines, providing nutrition supplements, delivering antenatal care to new mothers, providing emergency medical assistance, running clean-up campaigns, distributing food and ensuring that people have clean water. With a view to the longer term, we also provided fishing nets and seeds so people could feed themselves and earn a living.
