‘We may face starvation’: violence leads to hunger in South Sudan
The violence that has gripped South Sudan since December 2013 has sent waves of people fleeing for their lives. Leaving homes, farms and livestock behind, families have no source of food or income.
Father Biong Kwol, a priest who coordinates Caritas aid on the country’s northern border, talks about the growing hunger crisis.
In South Sudan, Father Biong Kwol helps feed thousands of hungry people who have fled violence. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/2013
What is the situation in Agok, where you work?
There are so many IDPs [people fleeing the war] here in Agok. Thousands. They’re coming from Malakal, Bentiu, so many places. There’s not enough food or shelter or water, anything. Many people are still living under the trees.
Could you talk more about the food situation?
Lots of people are seriously hungry now. People are eating anything they can. Sometimes we manage to give them some food. The parish or Mother Teresa’s sisters—we bought sorghum. And we’ve given out sugar, oil and lentils. But there’s not enough. The rations only last two or three days, not a week.
Other organizations like WFP [United Nations World Food Program] are also distributing food but it is still not enough for all the people.
Can you tell me about one family?
The majority of people coming here are women and children.
There was one woman, the mother of twins. The children were about 2 or 3 years old. They were just lying there. We asked why they weren’t moving. It was because they hadn’t eaten for two days. The mother had gone to the forest to get leaves to eat.
We got them some food. But it was horrible. You can’t even imagine.
Can people farm or raise livestock?
The people who already lived here can. But the [arriving families] can’t. There’s no place for them.
What about bringing in other food?
There’s fighting on the roads. And there’s so much mud. It’s raining now. Summer, especially July and August, are hard months. The roads are so muddy. There’s a food truck from our diocese coming here. The distance is about 30 kilometers. It’s taken four days so far.
There’s lots of pressure on our parish. Every morning, I see long lines of people who need help.
Mother and child in Agok, South Sudan, 2012. In 2014, thousands of people fled to Agok for safety. Photo: Laura Sheahen/Caritas
Can the local farmers who have always lived here help?
In 2011, local farmers sold all the food. Even if you had money, you couldn’t buy it. People died of starvation.
At church in Sunday, I told people, “Don’t sell all the food.” Those who remember 2011, they listen. But the selling price is high now. People who want to buy cows, they don’t listen.
If the food situation is bad now, what do you think will happen by September?
We may face starvation, like in 2011. People died of starvation then.
As part of its “One Human Family, Food for All” campaign, Caritas is bringing attention to the worst food crises of this year. Visit food.caritas.org or facebook.com/CaritasFoodForAll to learn more about how Caritas fights hunger and how you can be a part of the campaign.
Interview by Laura Sheahen