The heartbreaking consequences of aid reductions in South Sudan are becoming increasingly evident, as at least five children and three adults tragically lost their lives to cholera during a grueling three-hour walk for medical treatment.
With local clinics shut down due to funding cuts, families in Akobo County are left to endure the unthinkable, facing the deadly cholera outbreak without adequate healthcare services.
The victims, from remote parts of Akobo County in eastern South Sudan, embarked on the arduous journey to the nearest health facility in Akobo town.
Under the scorching sun, with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius and no access to clean water or shade, they succumbed to the disease before reaching help.
Until recently, these individuals could have accessed lifesaving treatment at one of 27 health centers supported by Save the Children. However, foreign aid reductions have forced seven of these facilities to close entirely, with the remaining 20 only partially operational.
The cholera outbreak, triggered by abnormal flooding earlier this year, has devastated Akobo County since February with half of the cases reported involving children under 17, a stark reminder of the vulnerability of South Sudan’s childrlen.
Compounding the crisis, malnutrition – aggravated by floods and ongoing conflict – has left families struggling with critical food insecurity. Save the Children reports that malnutrition, a primary killer of children worldwide, is making young patients even more susceptible to diseases like cholera.
The absence of proper healthcare facilities is leaving families with limited options. Many rely on dwindling supplies of oral rehydration sachets or turn to traditional medicine, such as local herbs, for relief.
Sarah, 24, a cholera patient, expressed the despair gripping her community: “We used to be happy – there were doctors and medicines. Now we are suffering. Sick people have to be carried to the hospital because they can no longer walk for hours.”
Michael, a community health worker volunteering at a local facility, described the dire situation saying “We used to have medicines for various diseases and could treat patients in time. Now, we can only provide oral rehydration salts, and even these are limited. We refer patients to Akobo town, but many don’t make it due to the long journey.”
The escalating security situation in Akobo County, marked by recent airstrikes, further jeopardizes humanitarian access, risking a return to nationwide conflict seven years after South Sudan’s peace agreement. Meanwhile, Save the Children continues to support cholera treatment units and provide water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies in functioning clinics.
Chris Nyamandi, Save the Children’s Country Director, called for urgent global action: “There should be moral outrage over the child deaths caused by decisions made elsewhere. South Sudan needs peace and stability, and we must prioritize children’s needs to prevent future tragedies.”
Save the Children remains committed to its work in South Sudan, providing education, healthcare, and nutritional support to families amid increasing challenges. The need for immediate international intervention is critical as Akobo County battles this dual crisis of cholera and malnutrition, with lives hanging in the balance.
