In Nairobi, Kenya, recent reports reveal that cholera has claimed the lives of eight individuals in South Sudan, five of whom were children. This distressing situation has arisen due to significant reductions in aid, which have compelled many patients to journey for hours to access the nearest medical facilities, as noted by a humanitarian organization on Wednesday.
Save the Children, a charity dedicated to aiding underprivileged communities, highlighted that the deaths took place in the inundation-prone eastern Jonglei state. The organization had previously shuttered seven health centers in the area, and currently, only about 20 facilities are partially operational, primarily managed by volunteers. Unfortunately, these facilities are unable to transport patients as effectively as they once could due to recent funding cuts.
This situation emerges in the wake of the cessation of USAID programs across various nations in East Africa, regions already beleaguered by conflict and drought. As a result, countless individuals are left in urgent need of assistance.
Chris Nyamandi, Country Director for Save the Children in South Sudan, expressed in a statement the critical need to prioritize the welfare of children residing in conflict-affected areas. He emphasized the ethical duty of the international community, stating, “Decisions by influential leaders from different countries have led to child fatalities within mere weeks.”
At Akobo hospital, managed by the government where most cholera cases are being handled, the medical director described the scenario as “catastrophic.” Health ministry statistics reveal that since October, there have been at least 46,716 diagnosed cholera cases coupled with 871 deaths across the nation. Nyuon Koang expressed concerns to reporters, mentioning that only one government-run health facility in Walgak town is fully functional.
In a related development last month, the United Nations cautioned that South Sudan is precariously close to another civil war. This warning followed an incident in the north where an armed group overtook a military base and targeted a U.N helicopter. In retaliation, government military forces launched a series of airstrikes, and currently, Riek Machar, the country’s vice president and main opposition figure, is under house arrest for incitement charges.
Meanwhile, the World Food Program (WFP) has sounded the alarm on the escalating hunger crisis in South Sudan, reporting that nearly 7.7 million people are grappling with severe levels of food insecurity categorized as crisis or worse.
These funding reductions have broader implications across East Africa, notably on aid operations in Somalia. Here, over 6 million individuals are confronting severe food shortages. Without reinstating previous funding levels, millions more could plummet into full-scale famine conditions.
In March, the WFP reported that 3.4 million Somalis were already enduring critical hunger levels and it plans to reduce its support from April, assisting only 820,000 people monthly with food and monetary aid, a significant decrease from the previous 2.2 million assisted in 2024.
The U.S. State Department announced Tuesday it will reverse certain funding cuts to WFP emergency projects across 14 impoverished nations, including Somalia. It admitted that some life-saving aid contracts had been inadvertently terminated.
Mohamed Elmi Afrah, an experienced aid worker and political analyst in Somalia, expressed concerns regarding the global repercussions of the funding cuts, stating, “The impact is especially severe in Africa.” He further pointed out the crucial role aid plays in supporting internally displaced persons, those affected by conflict, and other vulnerable communities that heavily rely on international aid efforts.