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In a heartbreaking turn of events, eight people, including five children, lost their lives during a desperate three-hour journey in search of medical help in South Sudan.
The victims, battling cholera succumbed to the disease under the scorching heat as they walked to the nearest functioning health facility.
UK-based charity Save the Children linked the tragedy to the shutdown of local health services following significant U.S. aid cuts.
These cuts were initiated under the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump in early 2017, as part of his “America First” policy that prioritized aligning foreign aid with American interests.
Christopher Nyamandi, Save the Children’s Country Director in South Sudan, expressed deep frustration over the consequences of international decisions.
“The decisions made by powerful people in other countries have led to child deaths in just a matter of weeks,” he lamented, urging the global community to express moral outrage.
Experts are raising alarms over the long-term implications of the aid cuts.
They warn that millions could die from preventable diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and malnutrition if funding is not restored.
More than 90 per cent of USAID contracts in South Sudan have reportedly been cancelled, severely impacting ongoing health programmes.
The U.S. State Department responded to the situation by stating it had no specific information on the reported deaths.
READ ALSO: South Sudan gets cholera vaccine doses amid ongoing outbreak
A spokesperson acknowledged that many American-funded programmes are still active but criticised South Sudan’s leadership for mismanaging aid due to corruption.
In South Sudan, humanitarian assistance is often channeled through non-governmental organisations to bypass corrupt practices. Prior to the funding reduction, Save the Children operated 27 health facilities in Jonglei State.
Now, seven of those clinics have shut completely, while 20 are only partially operational.
Transport services funded by the U.S. government, which once helped patients access hospitals, have also ceased.
As a result, cholera patients are now forced to walk long distances in extreme heat—reaching nearly 40°C (104°F)—just to get basic medical attention.
Nyamandi confirmed that three of the deceased children were under five years old. He added that cuts from other international donors have compounded the crisis, leaving humanitarian efforts overstretched and under-resourced.
Save the Children noted a significant reduction in its operational budget for South Sudan, with projected spending in 2025 falling to $30 million from $50 million in previous years.
The gap threatens to further cripple health and nutrition services in the already fragile country.
South Sudan’s humanitarian crisis remains severe. Over a third of its population is displaced due to conflict and climate-related disasters.
The risk of renewed civil war looms, as fresh fighting broke out in the northeast in February. Meanwhile, the cholera outbreak declared by the World Health Organisation in October 2024 has already infected more than 22,000 people and claimed hundreds of lives.
NAN
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