1.5 South Sudan

Question 1

What were the causes of the South Sudan Famine?

Answer 1

• 20 year civil war between government and opposition forced causing labour shortages and land normally used for farming too dangerous or destroyed
• Massive inflation of necessities so basic needs are not met
• Forced from homes, many became refugees
• Infrastructure and road systems destroyed
• Money funded towards the conflict
• UN unable to supply as too dangerous to supply aid
• Only 4% of land is used for farming despite arable lands yet 70% of labour force in farming.
• Scarce availability of capital due to less investment in war
• Delayed rains and lack of fertiliser caused drought, crop disease and flooding due to runoff.
• Pests such as army worm and locusts - locusts can eat 160000 tonnes a day and 10% of global food supply
• High dependency on farming - 70% of labour force and 37% of GDP
• Dependency on food imports which are lost
• Lack of food surplus in crisis
• High population growth
• AIDs and infant health poor
• Limited access to markets - high debt
• Overpopulation - creates a viscous cycle

Question 2

What are the impacts of the South Sudan crisis?

Answer 2

• 2 million displaced
• 700,000 died from hunger
• 400,000 died in total
• 6 million in need of air
• 60% of refugees are children
• Camps in neighbouring countries overcrowded
• Mass inflation

Marasmus - lack of calories
Beriberi skin disease- lack of vitamin B
Rickets - bones dont grow
Kwashiorkor - water retention cause body to bloat
-These diseases cause low productivity, rise healthcare costs, inflate food prices, high IMR and more conflict due to the problems not being resolved.