Catholic Relief Services: Desperate plight of displaced people in S. Sudan

Aid agencies say tens of thousands of people displaced by the fighting in South Sudan are in desperate need of clean water, food, medical supplies and shelter. Lorraine Bramwell is the Country Representative of South Sudan for Catholic Relief Services and she spoke to Susy Hodges about their plight.

Listen to the full interview with Lorraine Bramwell of Catholic Relief Services:

Bramwell describes the situation facing these displaced people in South Sudan as “extremely difficult” as they were forced to flee their homes at short notice with only the clothes on their backs. She says many of them are living under trees because there is “no infrastructure” to support them in the areas where they have fled. They only have dirty water to drink so ”children are getting sick” and there is “a huge need” for clean water, food, medical supplies and proper shelter to help them survive.

Although aid is starting to arrive, Bramwell says there are many logistic problems to overcome because of the lack of infrastructure in the world’s newest country. “Roads are almost non-existent” … and so “getting food and supplies around (the country) is very, very difficult.” These problems, she adds, are compounded by the insecurity and safety concerns arising from the continuing fighting.