Civil war broke out in the Republic of South Sudan in 2013 and continued until 2020. Years of conflict caused widespread destruction and forced millions of people from their homes. An estimated 2 million people were internally displaced, while another 2.3 million sought refuge in neighbouring countries. Although the civil war formally ended in 2020, South Sudan continues to face ongoing challenges, including inter-ethnic violence, armed conflict, and high levels of insecurity.
These challenges were compounded in 2020 when COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions placed additional strain on South Sudan’s already fragile economy. As livelihoods were disrupted, more families struggled to meet their basic food needs. At the same time, recurring cycles of drought and flooding devastated harvests, slowed development, and pushed more households deeper into food crisis. According to the World Food Programme, hunger and malnutrition reached historic highs, with an estimated 8.3 million people—about 75 per cent of the population—facing severe food insecurity.
Meeting Immediate Food Needs
In response, World Renew worked alongside trusted local partners to distribute emergency food kits to households in Gumuruk and Likuangole payams. The kits included five bags of maize flour (25 kilograms each), 12 kilograms of beans, seven litres of cooking oil, and two kilograms of salt—enough to help families meet their immediate food needs during a critical period.
Among those who received support were Rebecca Nyamakori and Kothokod Jowang, both residents of Gumuruk.
Rebecca, 47, and her husband have five children. Before conflict uprooted their lives, the family lived in a comfortable home near the church where Rebecca’s husband served as a preacher. They practised small-scale farming during the rainy season and grew crops along a nearby river during the dry season. The family supplemented their diet with wild fruit, such as tamarind, and fish caught in the river.
When harvests were good, the family ate well. When crops failed and fishing yields were low, they faced hunger—but they were grateful to have a place to call home. That changed when cattle raiders attacked their village, burning it to the ground. Everything the family had worked for was reduced to ash, forcing them to flee.
Kothokod, 37, also has five children and shares a similar story of loss. Like Rebecca’s family, hers was displaced when cattle raiders destroyed their home. The raiders also stole the family’s small herd of cattle—their primary source of income. Today, Kothokod and her husband rely on extended family, humanitarian organisations, fishing, and gathering wild fruit to survive. Kothokod continues small-scale farming and sells some produce to earn income, but it is not enough to meet her family’s basic needs.
Restoring Dignity and Hope
Both Rebecca and Kothokod were eventually able to rebuild simple houses to shelter their children from the elements. Even so, food insecurity remained a daily reality, and both women endured the pain of watching their children go hungry.
The food kits they received brought relief and renewed hope. Knowing their children would not go to sleep hungry helped ease the weight of constant worry. Rebecca shares, “The days we used to suffer because of food are now over. We have quality food to eat and in large quantities that can last for long. Please thank the donors for this kind project. I pray for the long life of all people involved in making sure my family gets the food.”
Kothokod echoes this gratitude: “I would like to thank [the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, ZOA, and World Renew] for this kind support. I pray for the well-being of the people who made this happen. Without this support my family would die of hunger. God bless you.”
Their words reflect the thanks of many other families who received food kits—families who, in the midst of hardship, found renewed strength through care, solidarity, and hope for a more secure future.
