40 Day Journey to an Isolated Camp in South Sudan
Recently, we have covered the ways in which our team at CHRF has stepped in to help those affected by COVID-19 in Kenya, as well as those who are continuously uprooted from their homes, fleeing as refugees, throughout Ethiopia. But, as you know, our work does not stop there. Today we will take a look at our challenging work to support the needy in South Sudan.
South Sudan is one of the most difficult places in the world to live right now. Between plagues of locusts wiping out crops, the ever present risk of diseases like malaria, political insecurity, attacks on villages, critical food shortages, malnourishment, not to mention the spread of COVID-19, all with a health care system that is basically non-existent.
CHRF is proud to enter difficult areas where few, if any, other groups travel; thanks to the years of experience and know-how of our emergency relief team. It is no easy task getting aid to isolated regions of South Sudan. The process to purchase supplies, load them onto large semi trucks, and reach the isolated swamp camps takes a total of 40 days; but this is a challenge our team knows they are uniquely qualified to undertake.
You may be wondering how it could possibly take so long to reach these poor families in desperate need of food, water, and supplies. I want to provide you a brief glimpse at what their 700 mile journey from Kampala, Uganda to the Swamps of South Sudan looked like.
The first few days are filled with preparation for the journey ahead. Purchasing, organizing, and packing relief supplies for 1500 families, then loading them up on large semi trucks to begin the trip in the capital of Uganda.
After a few days of travel, day and night on difficult roads, the team makes the journey to the border of Uganda and South Sudan. Here they wait along with hundreds of other trucks as much as 3 days at the border crossing to finally be permitted into the country.
Once allowed in, several more days pass as our team travels to the capital of South Sudan-- Juba-- where our team searches for space on large boats to transport 50 tons of relief materials down the Nile River, a challenge in a conflict zone.
Several days of travel down the Nile on "Cargo" boats and by day 28, the large boats have reached the swamps, but can travel no further. From here it is a full days canoe journey to and from the destination through the dangerous, crocodile infested, Nile River swamps. Only a small portion of the load can be taken on each canoe. It takes large groups of 10 canoes or more, as much as two weeks to transport all of the materials to our end site.
Around day 40, the team and the final loads of vital food and other relief assistance have arrived at their destination; the swamp camps where families have taken up refuge in a "safe zone" from conflict. Finally, our team is able to distribute the materials they worked so hard to get to this location to those who truly need them most. Knowing how desperately the families needed food, water, and supplies, made the long overnight drives, day long boat and canoe rides, all worth it.
It is so easy to take for granted the ability to stop at a drive thru for a quick bite, going grocery shopping, even growing your own garden in your backyard, all the luxuries that we have in America. Meanwhile, young children around the world are going days without a single bite of food and do not have a stable place to call home, it is just heartbreaking.
For just a small amount, you can help provide our emergency relief team with the supplies they need to help make these families lives just a little more bearable, knowing that they and their little ones have something to eat for the next few days.
Our team at CHRF thanks you, as this would all be impossible with out you. Stay safe and God bless.