January 29, 2024
Climate Crisis, Migration and Health Risks
As the weather warms and Covid-19 vaccinations continue to ramp up, our work across the world continues unabated, often in places the international media doesn’t report on, like South Sudan, which is in the midst of a serious humanitarian crisis.
Doctors of the World/Médecins du Monde (MDM) estimates that thousands of people in Jonglei State, South Sudan, will not have access to basic health services in the coming few weeks. Abnormally heavy rainfall has led to widespread flooding which has destroyed crops and homes, and caused a large-scale displacement of people.
Our team has been working in this region since 2017, helping to strengthen an already fragile public health system, and integrating new and critically needed mental health support.
Our services are geared specifically to children under the age of 5, pregnant and lactating women, women of reproductive age, and people with special needs, as they have the highest rates of morbidity and mortality in the region. We have launched mobile health clinics in isolated rural areas to reach out to these vulnerable groups. We are also working with local organizations to ensure the training of health personnel, and the provision of essential drugs and medical supplies to the hospital of Bor and other health facilities.
As Helea Sáiz Bermejo, our Emergencies Coordinator, explains “without access to basic health services and food, the local population is living in an atmosphere of insecurity and uncertainty.” Today, it is critical that we continue to provide support to the communities of South Sudan. Its independence in 2011 was followed by a civil war, and since 2018 the country has struggled to implement a peace agreement. The situation remains fragile and complex.
As the primary international actor in the Jonglei area, Doctors of the World continues running programs to strengthen capacity and increase access to health care to those in greatest need. But Helea stated that, sadly, without funds, “we will have to stop our work and thousands of people will not have access to basic health services at all.”
Together, we must ensure that no one is left behind.
Please consider making a donation now, to allow our teams to respond to this emergency in South Sudan and avoid the closure of our program in this country. Thank you for your trust in and continued support of our organization.
Fraser Mooney
Executive Director