December 2018 marked five years since the outbreak of the current conflict in South Sudan. The ongoing conflict has resulted in an estimated 380,000 excess deaths, 4.4 million people displaced, substantial macroeconomic decline, and widespread acute food insecurity across South Sudan.

An estimated 6.1 million people are facing acute food insecurity, emergency food assistance is vital to avert the risk of starvation or famine.

World Vision’s food assistance programme has reached close to 300,000 people through various programming initiatives across South Sudan.

In August 2018, an outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the North Kivu Province of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo increased the threat of cross-border spread into South Sudan.

In partnership with the Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation and other partner agencies we are working to prevent the potential spread into South Sudan, by monitoring risks, and ensuring an urgent response plan is ready for any eventualities. 

We are also working with families, by providing training on nutrition, health and sanitation. This equips them to take care of their children and strengthens their community to better respond to health threats.

World Vision is working to address the long-term needs of the children and families in South Sudan, by equipping the communities with resources and training to be self-sufficient. Providing vocational and business training builds families resilience and enables sustainable livelihoods.  

Families like Kuei's are empowered to become self-sufficient.  Kuei is a farmer who struggled to provide enough food to feed her family and some of her children suffered from malnutrition. 

We have been able to support her by providing seeds and tools to help improve her farming.  She enjoys the work involved in preparing crops and seeds for selling in local markets. Kuei can now feed her family, earn an income, and pay for other necessities such as medicine and school fees.

Open defecation and poor hygiene practices are a reality in many refugee camps in South Sudan and contribute to illnesses such as cholera and diarrhoea.

Sarah, is a hygiene promoter teaching people in a refugee camp about the importance of hand-washing with soap, using toilets, and other hygiene practices. We have supported her work by helping build 110 toilets, so thousands of people now have access to safe, hygienic toilets. 

The number of cases of water and hygiene-related illnesses in the camp has decreased.