(Photo courtesy Kids Alive International)

South Sudan (MNN) — Recent fighting in South Sudan has left about 500 people dead, and the death toll could rise, warned the country’s government. Bodies are still being found in forests, and many of those who were wounded are dying in hospitals.

United Nations officials raised alarm in the days following a failed coup attempt, as continued violence not only displaced 15,000-20,000, but also fed concerns that the fledgling nation could topple back into civil war.

Despite a dusk-to-dawn curfew, the fighting has highlighted the bitter fault lines in the country. The president and his former vice president hail from different ethnic groups and fought on different sides during Sudan’s 1983-2005 civil war (Dinka and Nuer). There are also oil rights to consider and religious alliances.

Add to that new clashes between rival army factions, and there’s fear that the violence is spreading beyond Juba into Jonglei state. What’s more, there’s evidence that tensions were rising in other states.

(Photo courtesy Kids Alive International)

Kids Alive International Vice President of Operations Jed Hamoud oversees the Kids Alive ministries in the Middle East and Africa. Of their work in South Sudan, he says for now, everyone is safe. “I’ve only been able to contact him once because the communications–phone network, internet, all of that–is pretty much unsupported–D-grade at this time, so the communication is poor.”

Wau is nearly 18 hours away from Juba. However, if the violence splits the nation along tribal lines again, no place is safe. Even in the remotest part of the village, says Hamoud, “The word gets around. They know there’s conflict. When I talked to Frances, our national director in Wau, he said the situation is very tense.”

Hamoud goes on to explain that in Wau, “We have residential children, about 20 children in residential care, and then we have about 20 community children that we care, for as well.” Although violence hasn’t hit them directly, it has caused a problem. “With the airport closed, with the banks closed, the only way to get between Juba and Wau is flying. There are no roads that take you there. We are concerned about our ministry being able to reach their bank to get the funding they need to buy the food and the needs to take care of the children.”

Already on the edge of survival, having no food isn’t an option. Fortunately, there is history with the community. “What we have done is rely upon community people to provide us with food we need: the grocers there, the shopkeepers, and so on. When we have our hands on our resources, we pay them.”

(Photo courtesy Kids Alive International)

Hamoud says their focus is on the entire child. Their team focuses on meeting the physical, emotional, AND spiritual needs of each child through Christ-centered care, education, and ministry. With the safety concerns mounting, the team takes the opportunity to prepare the kids. “In the morning, we have devotions with the children, and we have devotions in the evening with the children. A lot of those things get talked about.”

Christian caregivers in their Children’s Homes and community programs nurture and encourage these children to become faithful followers of Jesus that give hope to their community. Hope brings change, says Hamoud. “We usually try to give the message of peace, love, reconciliation. We do all that we can to teach the kids those biblical principles.”

This situation isn’t the first crisis for Kids Alive in South Sudan, and it may not be the last. Hamoud says, ”We know that it is the power of prayer that has sustained us all those years. We covet the prayers of everybody for the safety for our children, for the wisdom of our leadership.”

Please pray:
1. For the current situation to be resolved and that the violence would cease with no further loss of life.
2. For the safety of the children at the home in Wau and that they would know God’s peace at this turbulent time.
3. For the Director and staff, that they would make wise decisions and would continue to be able to meet the needs of the children.

Source: Mission Network News

(Photo courtesy Food For the Hungry)

South Sudan (MNN) — Heavy gunfire gripped South Sudan’s capital city of Juba Monday and Tuesday.

Food For the Hungry Director of Emergency Response Pete Howard explains the tinderbox situation that’s been developing since the 2011 Independence. “It has a lot of potential in oil revenues. As you can imagine, it causes a lot of tension: people vying for power and control of those revenues. In the last few days, political tension has overflowed into military violence.”

Tensions have been high since the July sacking of the entire cabinet. The government has struggled to establish a functioning state since becoming Africa’s newest nation. Howard goes on to say that on 16 December, “There was a military coup where the former vice-president was trying to take power back from the current president. That turned into fighting.” In fact, it resumed hours after South Sudan’s President said his forces had halted the coup.

By dawn, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir declared a curfew in effect, running each night from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. “Thousands of people did have to flee into various areas. Some [fled] into a Catholic Church, some into various U.N. compounds, trying to flee the fighting and find safety,” notes Howard.

(Photo courtesy Food For the Hungry)

But is this war a war of words, money, politics, or tribe? Kiir is from the Dinka community while the former vice president, Riek Machar, is Nuer. Maybe it was about something much more basic: survival. Howard says, “The needs continue to be incredible. The potential continues to be incredible, as well. That’s why Food For the Hungry is there, trying to connect people with the development opportunities and to walk alongside them as they build a future.”

The fear is that the fighting will further inflame these bitter conflicts and push South Sudan back into what it was prior to independence.

Meanwhile, the FH team hunkered down as the bullets flew around both sides of their Juba compound. FH has been working with communities for 12 years to increase farming, income, education, and water access. “This kind of fighting puts all of that in jeopardy. In the last few days, our staff has had to completely shut down our operations in the country, at least around the fighting.”

This is a nightmare for those who came home to South Sudan postwar without having land or resources to restart their lives. FH is helping conflict-affected communities, including displaced families, to rebuild their lives. It is this work, Howard comments, that softens hearts for more. “By being there, caring for them with the compassion of Christ, that is the Gospel. Oftentimes that can turn into really great conversations about being created in the image of God and the opportunities there are as people reach their full potential.”

(Photo courtesy Food For The Hungry)

The Emergency Response team is also supporting FH staff in South Sudan in their ongoing Emergency-in-Education programs for youth and also in their plans for new programs to bring greater health and hope to these communities. Disruption to these programs presents a setback that can only be answered one way: “We’ve been asking people to pray for peace and security in the coming days so we can resume supporting the communities.”

Click here for ways to be part of the peace solution.

Source: Mission Network News