Conflict and Poverty in Southern Sudan     

• 2 million people lost their lives in the civil  war                                            

• 4 million people were displaced

• 41% of children are malnourished

• 30% of people do not have access to clean water

Sudan is the largest and one of the most troubled countries on the African continent. Twenty-two years of civil war between the largely Muslim north and Christian and Animist South have ravaged the country.

Following a series of unsuccessful attempts at peace negotiations since the 1990s, a Comprehensive Peace Agreement was finally concluded in January 2005. The agreement established a ceasefire and plans for disengagement as well as provisions for national elections. This was followed by the formation of a Government of National Unity, however this ended in October 2007 and a referendum on the independence of the south will be held in 2011.

Poverty is endemic but the near complete destruction of the country's infrastructure has lead to an increase in concerns over food security in the region. Generations of Sudanese born into conflict have missed out on an education and the four million refugees created by the conflict face a long and difficult struggle to rebuild their lives.

Caritas Yei's Agricultural Project is helping refugees returning from neighbouring countries to rebuild their lives in Sudan. Thankfully, there is enough land for every returning refugee to receive a small plot but without the necessary resources, farming this land remains impossible. Caritas Yei provides these people with agricultural support, seeds, tools and training so that they can start to sustain themselves and their families. 

 Click here to read our Africa Projects Officer's blog from his trip to Sudan

Statistics provided by DFID and the World Bank