I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
Renewed fighting in South Sudan has triggered a large-scale displacement crisis, AFP reported on the 25th (local time). Citing South Sudanese authorities, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that more than 180,000 people are estimated to have been displaced across four counties in Jonglei state over the past week.
OCHA said that most of the displaced are sheltering under trees or in temporary structures and are facing severe food shortages. Many homes and health facilities have been burned, leaving people with little to no access to medical care. Shortages of clean water and the risk of disease outbreaks are also growing.
The renewed conflict has intensified mainly in Jonglei state, north of the capital Juba. A source from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Juba said that fighting has escalated again since last month, with civilian access cut off in much of Jonglei. One displaced person told AFP that many people had been killed, adding that if the situation worsened, civilians would have no choice but to flee into nearby swamps. In some areas, residents have lost both their families and livelihoods and have been forced into prolonged displacement.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a recent statement that it was deeply concerned by continued violence against civilians, including arson and looting. Armed groups have reportedly raided villages, burned homes and forcibly displaced residents. The UN has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for all parties to respect existing ceasefire agreements.
South Sudan’s civil war began in 2013 following a power struggle between President Salva Kiir, from the Dinka ethnic group, and then vice president Riek Machar, from the Nuer ethnic group, before expanding into a broader ethnic conflict. The war has killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced millions. Although a 2018 peace agreement led to Machar’s return to government and an official end to the war, renewed clashes have erupted amid rising political tensions, particularly after Machar was detained in March 2024 on charges related to crimes against humanity, analysts say.
South Sudan continues to suffer from extreme poverty, driven by chronic corruption and a fragile state system. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), around 7.7 million of the country’s 12 million people were facing food insecurity last year. Prolonged conflict has crippled agriculture and market systems, entrenching the humanitarian crisis. The international community has stressed the need for more active engagement to protect civilians and secure humanitarian access.(Source: Gospel Prayer News, Edited version)
I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.(Proverbs 4:11-12, NIV)
God, though the civil war that began in 2013 seemed to end with a peace agreement, it has once again intensified. Please protect the people of South Sudan who are fleeing violence and looting. Hold the anxious hearts of those forced to leave their homes and seek safety. Through the churches in that land, lead them to meet the Lord, the Way of life. As they step into an uncertain future, guide them on the way of the cross and the way of truth. Help them to move forward without despair, holding fast to the hope of the eternal kingdom.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
