The lack of humanitarian aid and resources propels many South Sudanese refugees to look for opportunities outside the region. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Happy Independence Day, South Sudan! After decades of war—the African continent’s longest-running civil war—South Sudan succeeded from Sudan and became a new nation on July 9th, 2011.
It’s not been an easy journey for generations of people living in or fleeing from South Sudan nor since their independence. Lately, the nine-year-old nation has been making the news again… but for all the wrong reasons.
The most recent Trafficking In Persons Report (TIP Report) by the US State Department reflects that South Sudan neglects anti-trafficking measures, “Traffickers lure [many South Sudanese refugees] victims with fraudulent offers of employment in hotels, restaurants, and construction in South Sudan, Uganda, and beyond… It also notes that South Sudanese women and girls, particularly those from rural areas or who are internally displaced are forced into marriages as compensation for inter-ethnic killings or subject girls to sexual slavery or domestic servitude.”
(AP Photo/Charles Atiki Lomodong)
Virus outbreak could spin ‘out of control’ in South Sudan
“South Sudan, a nation with more military generals than doctors, never had a fighting chance. Five years of civil war and corruption stripped away much of its health system, and today nongovernmental organizations provide the majority of care. Nearly half of the population was hungry before the pandemic. Deadly insecurity continues, and a locust outbreak arrived just weeks before the virus.
When world leaders talk about the pandemic not being over until it’s over everywhere, they are talking about places like South Sudan.”
Empowering Change-Makers in Warzones.
Trafficking, pandemics, lack of infrastructure, famine, war. That’s exactly why LUV is in South Sudan.
LUV identifies locations where children and women are most vulnerable to human trafficking, exploitation, and oppression and we go where little to no other help is available because it is either considered too dangerous, too remote, or too expensive for most groups to serve.
Because of your generosity to those most vulnerable to human trafficking—and now COVID-19—we were able to send extra food, medicine, and soap for coronavirus relief and prevention this past month to best serve the children under our protection. Our farming initiatives are also in full swing and locally sourced food will be harvested starting next month! Stay tuned for a farm update next week.
In addition, with an abundance of your generosity we mobilized to extend aid to our neighbors in the local community.
Pictured above: community women and children near New Life Ministry (along the border of Darfur) wait in line for soap distribution yesterday. Hope For South Sudan (along the border of Uganda) just received their supplies and will also begin distribution soon to their neighbors in need.
In extreme poverty locations like South Sudan, soap—let alone masks—are commodities that few have access to. With your help we’re providing training and resources to support children and women in preventative measures. With no health care system, prevention is the people’s only line of defense. Read James Lual Atak’s letter about how the coronavirus is affecting his community, “When there’s not even soap” below.
Lift Up the Vulnerable is on the forefront of preventing human trafficking and exploitation in South Sudan.
We envision a world where vulnerable children and women are empowered and, through them, war-torn communities are transformed.
With every gift of LUV, you equip us to stand with and lift up the most vulnerable. At the core of what we do is a belief that empowered people empower people and through that contagious love individuals, relationships, communities, and nations can be transformed.
More help is needed. Join us!
Partners in Christ,
Audrey Moore
Chief Executive Officer
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sudan, South Sudan and many East African countries have limited travel and closed schools. These travel restrictions have also delayed our child sponsorship updates and letter delivery.
Please be patient with us as we navigate how and when to move forward with these important visits while seeking to do all that we can to protect our children and indigenous partners.
Our partners and the children also need our support. We want to ensure that no child is left behind during this global crisis, and even more so, we are steadfast in our dedication to saving the most vulnerable from a lifetime of trafficking and slavery. In these uncertain times our work now is more critical than ever. Your prayers and financial partnership will help us save lives!