Read our 2019 annual report
Why are we in South Sudan? South Sudan gained independence in July 2011 and has experienced a long history of conflict, displacement, and deepening humanitarian needs. The Human Development Index (HDI) places it at 186 out of 189 countries. We are responding by providing emergency, resilience, and long-term development programming.
*We are currently responding to the threat of COVID-19 in South Sudan. Find out more about our response here.
In February 2020, the establishment of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) marked a step forward in South Sudan’s peace process, which has seen a largely successful ceasefire and a reduction in conflict since 2018. However, the impacts of years of fighting has destroyed livelihoods, and persistent localised insecurity has left 7.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. There are 1.5 million people internally displaced within South Sudan and 5.29 million people (45% of the total population) are already facing crisis levels of food insecurity.
“It’s hard to cope with what you’re seeing because people have nothing. It was two days wandering around the camp before I saw a child with a piece of paper. There are no toys. Nothing.”
Programme impact
Concern reached over 495,000 of some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in South Sudan through health and nutrition, livelihoods, WASH, food security and shelter programmes in 2019.
Building NGO capacity
COVID-19 prevention
Irish artist Brian Maguire travelled with Concern Worldwide to a Protection of Civilian camp in Bentiu in 2018. The site is home to 120,000 people who have been displaced by war in South Sudan. His ‘HUMANITY Site Unseen’ exhibition is inspired by the people he met there. His works bear witness to a crisis so vast, it's sufferers have been rendered anonymous by scale.
HUMANITY Site Unseen: Irish artist Brian Maguire in South Sudan
We're working hard to respond to the growing needs in South Sudan through emergency programming which includes activities around health, food security, and water sanitation and hygiene.
