JUBA, South Sudan (January 13, 2014) — World Vision, one of the largest aid agencies working in South Sudan, is calling on all parties to listen to the cries of the
afflicted children and seek a negotiated solution to the nearly month-long conflict in the country.
“Children are arriving to places of sanctuary unaccompanied. They are tired, hungry and afraid. Many of them are in
grave danger of contracting malaria as a result of spending nights in the bush. And they are vulnerable to other
diseases -- depending on the living conditions where they run to and the lack of medical services,” said Perry
Mansfield, the director of World Vision’s programs in South Sudan.
“We are appealing to the South Sudan Government and opposition to cease hostilities immediately and listen to the
children, who are now in desperate need of help,” Mansfield said.
World Vision, working alongside other aid agencies, has trained nearly 3,000 displaced people in Malakal town, Upper
Nile on how to improve sanitation and hygiene to avoid diseases. The organization helped them to set up water and
sanitation committees to ensure standards of cleanliness within the compound are maintained. In addition, World Vision
is distributing relief supplies, including plastic sheeting for emergency shelter and hygiene kits donated by USAID, to
displaced communities in Upper Nile and Unity states of South Sudan.
Aid agencies, including World Vision, have had some of their offices and warehouses in the affected areas vandalized.
World Vision would like to remind all parties to the conflict of their responsibility to protect civilians and ensure
humanitarian access as well as abide by international humanitarian law to protect children and other civilians from
attack in the conflict affected areas.
World Vision is also responding to the humanitarian needs of South Sudanese who have fled their country into neighboring
Uganda and Kenya.
“We need immediate access to the needy population across the country to save lives. Despite the deteriorating security
in South Sudan, we continue to work toward recovery and development in areas where the security situation allows. We are
closely monitoring the security situation, as we respond to immediate needs in the conflict affected states,” Mansfield
said.
ENDS