Thousands of Southern Christians have been fleeing Sudan since the government removed their citizenship rights last year after the South voted to secede. Last month, Khartoum set a deadline of 8 April for all people of Southern origin (who are mainly Christian and mainly African) remaining in the strongly Islamic and Arab Sudan either to leave the country or to be treated as foreigners.
Many of those entering South Sudan are taking shelter in camps set up for returnees from the North and elsewhere. In the Hai Salam camp in Malakal, people are living in desperate conditions. They lack proper shelter, medicine, food and clean water. Every day the women have to walk two hours each way to collect water from the River Nile.
Families are seeking help from the Church in South Sudan, but it is overwhelmed by the need. Barnabas Fund is helping by providing emergency supplies, including sorghum (grain), mosquito nets, blankets, water drums and cooking pots. It costs approximately: £10 to feed one person for a month; £40 to supply a family with plastic sheeting; £50 to equip a family with essential items including jerry cans and cooking pots; and £70 for water storage per family.
As Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said: “South Sudan is completely overwhelmed by the influx of people effectively forced out of Sudan. The Church in the South is doing all it can to extend Christian love and practical support to the thousands of families entering the country, but it is struggling to cope. Working with trusted church partners, Barnabas Fund is taking some of the strain. But the need is great, so please help us … “ For more details and how to give: http://barnabasfund.org/UK/News/Latest-emergencies
Christians flee Sudan