South Sudan’s Crisis: Humanitarian Needs Rise as Funding Falls by Tessa Tuerlings

This lecture will be about the ‘forgotten crisis’ in South Sudan, the youngest nation in the world. After a long history of repression by the United Kingdom, Egypt and Sudan, South Sudan gained independence in 2011. Although expectations were high and both the population and the international community were optimistic, a bloody civil war erupted shortly after independence. A peace deal was signed a few years later, but peace remains fragile up to this day. Opportunities for development have been limited due to this troubled history. The humanitarian situation in South Sudan is complex, with 9 million out of 12 million people living there in need of humanitarian assistance. Next to insecurity, the country is dealing with the consequences of economic crisis, inflation, refugees from the war in Sudan and yearly floods that make large parts of the country inaccessible. 

Humanitarian organizations are trying to provide life-saving support in this challenging context. They work in areas such as food security, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as protection of women and children. Recently, decisions by western governments such as the Netherlands, the UK and the US to cut funding for foreign aid have shocked the humanitarian system and has left many asking: how can humanitarian organizations continue to do their work in such a hostile environment?

Tessa Teurlings previously worked as lobby & advocacy coordinator for Help a Child, a development and humanitarian organization. She now holds the position of coordinator programs & partners within the same organization. In collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Help a Child leads a humanitarian consortium working in South Sudan.