Sharing Hope with Families in a Crisis

Sudan has long been one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in Africa, receiving an estimated one million refugees, including 800,000 people who have fled violence in neighboring South Sudan. On April 15, 2023, Sudan faced its own crisis when violence escalated within its borders, bringing destruction and disruption to its infrastructure, including hospitals and markets. As a result, refugee and local-resident families alike faced rising levels of disease and hunger.

It is estimated that more than 5 million people in Sudan have abandoned their homes to escape the violence: 2.2 million are now internally displaced, and nearly 3 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries. This includes 700,000 people who crossed into South Sudan—many of whom had previously fled to Sudan seeking refuge. This influx of people into South Sudan has escalated the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Sadly, this growing disaster has received minimal attention in the media.

Aweil East is a region in South Sudan that has received numerous South Sudanese returnees and Sudanese refugees. In August 2023, World Renew, through a peer organization, ZOA, and with funding support from Canadian Foodgrains Bank, started a six-month cash-for-food distribution project focused on addressing the food security of the most vulnerable families in Aweil East.

Malual Apath, 70, and his family are residents of Aweil East. His community has felt the ripple effects of the Sudanese conflict. Not only did the influx of people into the region put a strain on resources, but many households in South Sudan had relied on imports from Sudan—which became increasingly difficult to access with the escalation of violence. 

Malual, like many in his community, could not obtain the tools and seeds he needed for his farm, and, as a result, his production levels and income plummeted and his family began to struggle with increasing hunger. Finding it difficult to do the labor-intensive farming he relied on to survive, Malual felt there was no hope to escape hunger.

He became relieved, however, when his family qualified for the cash-for-food distribution project. After receiving the first round of cash in March 2024, Malual began to experience renewed hope. He used some of the $205 (CAD) he received to purchase a 90kg bag of sorghum, a popular grain used for cooking in South Sudan.

“At least I have enough to purchase sugar and cereals for my family to eat twice a day. I am becoming stronger now and will begin working on my farm again,” he said. 

Nearly 2,000 families have benefited from monthly cash distributions through this project. Visit worldrenew.ca/global-food-crisis to learn more.