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Children are facing the brunt of the humanitarian crises in South Sudan with 70pc out of school and millions malnourished
Machot (12) was forced to flee his home in Yirol East, South Sudan after conflict broke out. Photo: Trócaire
In his hometown in Yirol East, South Sudan, Machot (12) remembers what it felt like to be able to play safely with his friends after a day at school.
They would gather together as many neighbourhood boys as they could, and play ‘mud splash’ until their parents called them in for an evening meal.
When conflict broke out in Machot’s village, he was forced to flee to another village in Yirol East with his parents and four younger siblings.
The family, who farmed their land for food, lost everything they had except each other.
“We left our home because of the conflict, we were scared of being killed,” Machot says.
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“Since we fled the conflict, I haven’t been able to attend school. I help my parents with farm labour instead.”
Machot and his family now rely on harvesting groundnuts to eat and to sell to earn an income. He starts his day early, helping his family with the harvest and hunting wild birds.
Nyayen with her children after receiving emergency items from Trócaire and CAFOD at a reception centre in Yirol East. Photo: Trócaire
Machot, who dreams of being a pilot, says he wants to attend school but says tensions between hosting families and families who have resettled in his new village prevent him from attending.
“I am scared to be hurt because of the ongoing tension in the area. My wish is to finish school uninterrupted, so that one day I can be able to serve my country and be a valuable member in my society,” Machot says. “When I grow up and finish school, I would like to be a pilot so that I can support my family.”
He adds his biggest wish this Christmas, would be to have a friend in his new village.
“I just wish to get a friend who we can stay together as best friends,” Machot says.
A complex balance between conflict and climate change has left South Sudan consistently ranking among the world’s hungriest countries. After a famine in 2017, the country is now once again facing similar conditions due to renewed violence, the worst flooding in almost 60 years, and a lack of rain.
An estimated 9.4 million people (76pc) required humanitarian assistance in 2023, according to the UN. More than 2.8 million children (70pc) are out of school in South Sudan. 1.4 million children under 5 are facing acute malnutrition, with one in 10 children dying before their fifth birthday.
Trócaire and CAFOD are on the ground in South Sudan providing seeds, tools and emergency food aid to families like Machot’s. As well as providing immediate humanitarian aid, Trócaire and CAFOD promote peacebuilding and reconciliation in South Sudan.
Machot (12) and his mother Nyayen (38) were forced to flee their home in Yirol East, South Sudan after conflict broke out. Photo: Trócaire
Machot’s mother Nyayen (38) says she feels safer in the new village, but she worries her children are still living in fear.
“We were all shocked and in fear. There were clashes between young people in our village, and revenge killings. We feared we would be killed. We couldn’t tend to our farm so we escaped here,” Nyayen says.
“My children were terrified. When we leave the house now to go and do some labour in the village, they are always frightened. They feel unsafe to remain behind by themselves. They have even stopped playing with the kids they have been playing with,” Nyayen says.
“My fear has subsided a bit because I feel safe here. There are other displaced families with us here too. In our home village, there was no protection.”
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Life in their new village is difficult though, Nyayen says, as the family all sleep in a tiny room they share with another family. The family have no belongings, not even cooking utensils.
Nyayen said that before conflict broke out, the family received seeds and tools from Trócaire and CAFOD and survived on produce from their farm which grew sorghum, beans and ground nuts.
“We have nothing for survival here. I have to collect wild vegetables and roots from the forest to eat. My husband and I do some labour in the village, working on hosts farms and on construction sites to get paid.”
“We leave early in the morning to go and search for something to do. We normally eat once a day. We only eat supper in the evening when we return with something.”
“I am thankful for the help that has been coming from Trócaire and CAFOD as they do keep us alive and we are grateful,” Nyayen says.
Nyayen and her husband Duol Kuok. They are seeking protection at a community centre in Yirol East, South Sudan. Photo: Trócaire
Nyayen’s husband Duol Kuok (54) says he hopes someday they will be able to return to their home.
“My children are emotionally affected by conflict. They are scared because whenever they go to fetch water they are abused and scolded by the children from the area,” Duol Kuok says.
“But my main worry is hunger. We have nothing to feed on.”
“My hope in life is to see my children go to school. I am very grateful to the donors that guarantee our survival here. It means so much to us.”
Trócaire’s Christmas Appeal is supporting the children of places such as Gaza, Ukraine, South Sudan and Ethiopia who are living in conflict zones.
Your donation this Christmas will help us to provide survival kits, emergency dignity kits, and essential food baskets, as well as supporting critical work across Trócaire’s global programmes.
