Morning briefing of volunteer team before distributions
An estimated 70,000 people fled their homes after fighting that centred on the town of Kadugli. Many are without food, drinking water and shelter in South Kordofan that borders South Sudan, which became independent on 9 July. Looting and violence has destroyed homes and livelihoods, leaving many who fled with little left to go back to.
“The Sudanese Red Crescent is the only humanitarian organization able to operate in all areas of this part of Sudan,” said Aisha Maulana, IFRC representative in Sudan.
Over 600 Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) volunteers have been working in South Kordofan during the emergency situation, of which more than half are youth volunteers. ‘With support of the World Food Programme (WFP) we have been able to distribute food and non-food items to cover the immediate needs of the community in Kadugli town’ says 27 year old Zacharia Jazralie, head of SRCS youth volunteer relief team.
These SRCS youth volunteers are involved in many different activities such as registration of internally displaced persons (IDPs), management of child friendly spaces where counselling and child protection activities take place, dissemination of the fundamental principles and correct emblem use, tracing and family reunification activities. ‘They are a vital part of our work and are very dedicated to help their community during this crisis’ says Ahmed AlGundi, SRCS South Kordofan Disaster Response Team Leader.
‘I have been working with SRCS for over 17 years, and for the last three weeks we have been working non-stop to provide relief in five areas of Kadugli’, says Zacharia Jazralie. ‘It is very rewarding to be able to give my community food. Everything I have I want to share with them.’
Since the independence of South Sudan, tensions are mounting in South Kordofan but also in other transitional states, leading to the fear that additional humanitarian support will be required. ‘With the help of all our well-trained youth volunteers we are ready to provide immediate humanitarian assistance in all border regions’ says Osman Gaffer, Secretary General of Sudanese Red Crescent Society.
