As South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, is feared to be on the brink of collapse, words cannot truly paint the developing horrific picture—the youngest of the population subjected to the greatest harm. Long a tinderbox due to conflicting tribal loyalties, South Sudan’s warring leaders are the driving force behind the latest outbreak of hostilities. The conflict, which broke out in December 2013, has created a growing number of penniless orphans, leaving South Sudan’s children in refugee camps, or worse, hiding in bushes for shelter. Older children are forced to become both mother and father to younger siblings, searching for food, water and safe shelter forsaking their dreams of receiving an education. South Sudan faces possible famine if warring forces continue to flout the ceasefire deal proposed in January; almost three months of this raging conflict leaves thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Furthermore, UNICEF has received credible reports that children continue to be used as combatants in the South Sudan conflict. This is illegal under international and national law. Even with a cessation of hostilities, the effects of the conflict on South Sudanese children is devastating. Over the past seven weeks girls and boys have been killed, maimed, raped, orphaned, and, as stated, hundreds of thousands of young people are now homeless.

The United Nations reports over 930,000 civilians have fled their homes since fighting began; in excess of a quarter million leaving for neighboring nations as refugees. According to the latest UN figures, 46,874 South Sudan refugees fled to Uganda’s Adjumani region to escape the fighting which broke out between government forces and troops loyal to opposition leader Riek Machar.

As reported in COE’s newsletter on January 18, 2014, this crisis prompted the Children of the Earth Spirit Ambassador, Peter Garang Deng, to launch DOF’s Emergency Project. The Project enables Deng Opportunities Foundation, Inc., in collaboration with Peter Deng Express, to respond with small-scale, humanitarian emergency services to immediately assist the indigenous population during this time of crisis. The primary purpose of the project is to provide food, clean water, and transportation to families in need.

Click here to meet some of the orphans.

Click here to read more about the project.

"Please accept my sincerest condolences for our innocent brothers and sisters who had loss their lives to this heartless war about power struggle. No words from me that will supply the love, the hope, the comfort and the strength to those of you who had lost a family member (s) or friends. However, I am deeply saddened by this heartless power struggle fight that left many innocent Southern dead."
- Peter Garang Deng, the founder of Deng Opportunities Foundation

Princess Ogechi Ukaga, COE Chapter Leader of Nigeria, also continues to raise awareness and support for aid to the children in South Sudan as she and others prepare for the upcoming monumental gathering of chapter leaders across Africa to unite in a proactive One Peaceful Africa event.

"What is happening in Sudan is more than what we give out as news. [The crisis] is so bad. . . some of [the orphans] in Nigeria are hiding and when you hear their stories, you will cry. . . Sudan is close to Kenya and l have to work hard to get ONE or two of them to our Kenya Program. . ."
  - Princess Ukaga, CoE Nigeria

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