South Sudan continues to grapple with one of the world’s most protracted humanitarian crises. Today, intercommunal violence remains persistent, and more than two thirds of the population live in extreme poverty.

Adding pressure to already fragile and overstretched systems, more than 1 million refugees and returnees have crossed into the country since conflict erupted in neighbouring Sudan in April 2023. 

As needs continue to deepen with each passing day, Relief International is strengthening critical services in the border town of Renk and nearby villages or “payams”, thanks to support from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund. 

A few months ago, the only functioning hospital in the entire county of Renk was left with limited staff, unable to meet the growing needs of both the local and refugee populations. After consulting with the community to determine what type of support was most helpful, Relief International deployed additional healthcare workers and began supporting the hospital’s emergency and outpatient departments. Today, the facility is able to continue providing much-needed surgeries, safe newborn deliveries, and essential medical care.

85-year-old Ibrahim, who was supported by Relief International, and his son Al Nour Hassan.

In nearby Magara, Sudanese refugee Ibrahim experienced the benefit of the restored hospital first-hand. Ibrahim had suffered an abdominal hernia while trying to lift his fallen donkey. Forced to flee violence in his home country, he carried his pain with him as he made the difficult journey to South Sudan. 

“The pain became so severe that I could no longer sleep comfortably,” he said. 

Eventually Ibrahim heard about Relief International’s mobile medical unit and following a consultation, he was urgently referred to Renk Civil Hospital where he underwent successful surgery free of charge.

Today, Ibrahim returns to the mobile clinic not as a patient overwhelmed by pain, but for a routine follow-up appointment alongside his son Al Nour Hassan. 

In just three months, we have delivered more than 2,000 health consultations through seven health facilities in Renk County and nearby Maban. Our local staff have assisted more than 250 women during birth and provided critical nutrition support to over 7,000 women and children. 

In Jalhak, a hard-to-reach village also near Renk, challenges have persisted for a long time. For years, families relied on untreated river water while healthcare was distant and unaffordable. As a result, preventable illnesses were a part of daily life. 

This is where Relief International stepped in. Working in partnership with the local community, we rehabilitated the village’s existing water treatment plant, creating a sustainable solution that is locally managed and built to serve for years to come. 

Lucia Simon at her home in Jalhak, where a dire lack of healthcare and safe water caused constant illness.

Alongside clean water, we are also delivering much-needed healthcare in Jalhak through a newly established maternity ward and a mobile medical unit. At the same time, trained hygiene promoters are visiting households with practical information that everyone can understand, regardless of their literacy level.

Lucia and her daughter using the newly accessible clean water.

With support from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, we have been able to reach communities where needs are the greatest in Renk County, and beyond. While significant strides have been made, the needs remain immense. As war rages on in Sudan, families will continue to arrive in search of safe shelter and lifesaving care.

“We’re so grateful for the opportunity to provide these services, but it is not enough — there is so much more needed. Now is the time to support these communities,” urges Bisma, Deputy Country Director at Relief International in South Sudan.