South Sudan's humanitarians rise to every challenge with a perseverance like no other
South Sudan remains in a very dire humanitarian situation.
It is currently experiencing one of the severest levels of food insecurity. Over 60% of its 12 million people, including 1.6 million internally displaced persons, are in need of emergency food assistance.
In this grim scenario, humanitarian workers are at the front line, responding to multifaceted emergencies, tackling acute hunger, and supporting people displaced due to flooding and localized conflicts.
The COVID19 pandemic further complicated efforts, with its aftershocks affecting the most vulnerable.
Access limitations, program suspensions due to operational interference from local youth groups, and violent attacks on humanitarian workers and properties are prevalent, even a day-to-day challenge.
These incidents have caused suspension of life-saving programs to hundreds of thousands of desperate and vulnerable people.
Every humanitarian worker should not be a target.
They should be protected to operate in a safe and secure environment in full adherence to humanitarian principles.
The need for sustained dialogue and engagement with restless youth groups and other segments of society has never been so high.
It takes the entire humanitarian community, with the frontline workers especially, to exercise the highest level of accountability, with constructive community engagement and partnerships with program participants.
Programs should address issues over the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus to maximize the results of investments.
Violence against humanitarian workers and organizational assets is not a solution, and will only lead to further deterioration of the situation.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of humanitarian workers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
World Vision appreciates the persistent efforts of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the humanitarian community to address access and security issues.
World Vision applauds our staff, community volunteers, government sector, and other partners who are with us in delivering our promise to the most vulnerable.
Perseverance and commitment are paramount to deliver essential services in the most isolated parts of South Sudan, often with the greatest inequity. Humanitarian workers have demonstrated that over the years.
It is high time to gather all our efforts to focus on the pressing needs of the most vulnerable and support their journey out of poverty – towards peace and recovery.
On World Humanitarian Day, World Vision renews its commitment to stand together to end hunger, poverty, conflict, and contribute to nation-building in South Sudan.
Watch Video: Dr. Mesfin Loha applauds humanitarians' commitment
By Dr. Mesfin Loha, Country Director, World Vision South Sudan