We wrote a few months back about the floodwaters which plague Old Fangak and much of South Sudan. For four years now, most of our land has been buried in water. Cattle can’t graze, and crops can’t grow. With food insecurity in many countries, and attention focused on the horrors of the Ukraine war, the World Food Program was forced to make cuts to its programs. We are lucky to remain on their list. But WFP decreased rations by one third. If we want our patients to be able to stay for the duration of their treatment, and have enough nutrition to get healthy again, we have to make up the difference.
Fighting broke out in September up river. Boats could no longer pass. Not only were WFP deliveries delayed for four months; no trader boats carrying food and goods for the market could get through either. Your contributions helped SSMR buy dried fish caught locally, and sold in long braided strips. (Have you ever smelled fish that was dried without benefit of salt? It reeks! But our patients were so grateful for it!)
In November. Jill wrote a desperate, impassioned letter to WFP, saying there was no food available in Old Fangak at any price… Read the entire newsletter – South Sudan Christmas 2022