Nyal, South Sudan, was once a quiet town known for its mango and palm trees. Two years of extended fighting in the surrounding areas, however, has forced thousands of people to seek refuge in the town and the islands surrounding it. Many of those who have found refuge in Nyal, including women and children, must regularly walk long distances alone in search of aid and food. Even then, food is scarce. Famine has been declared in South Sudan. Oxfam provides assistance to displaced people and the communities that host them in and around Nyal, both on the mainland and on remote islands. With support from Irish Aid, Oxfam is able to offer a free canoe transportation program to those people who need to journey to Nyal for food distribution or medical treatment.
Oxfam has employed boat operators through its protection committee to ferry vulnerable groups to and from the islands. With the scarcity of boats and the inability of vulnerable groups to seek medical attention, Oxfam came in to give such assistance in this fragile context. One of these boat operators is Gabrial Puol Thiel. He has been with Oxfam for the last 2 years since 2015, transporting the vulnerable to and from the islands.
Nyadak was assisted to settle well into the boat before the journey began. She will have to lie on her back for the entire journey. She has been paralyzed since 2013 when doctors prescribed her of having Brucellosis and syphilis.
The convoy of Oxfam riders takes on the boat against the still waters of the swamps. They are determined to take the vulnerable to their homes. The only motivation they said is doing it for their beloved people. At journey requires them to be not so far from each other to man any challenges that might occur with one of the boats. They also talk and sometimes sing traditional or long ago songs as a source of encouragement to overcome the thought of tiredness between the distances.
Nyaruach Matai with her child at one of the islands in the swamps in Unity State. She is a young mother who came to this Island, in February 2017, from Koch in Leer County. She said due to the frightening things she experienced in Leer, she did not want to go to the mainland.
Riek Kong sits on his mother's lap as the health personnel takes measurements to determine his nutrition level.
Nyaliah Kong carrying her sister Nyachan Kong. At a young age, she has to take up the responsibility of taking care of her sibling. Their mother has been looking for something to feed the family so she had to bring her sister to the hospital after a 1-hour walk through the forest.
Nyanding Kai has stayed on Thorbil Island for many years. She is the host who has been welcoming new IDPs and other people from the mainland. Most of her children are in their own homes but she lives with one who is blind. Nyayok Liah her daughter got blind when she was 5 or 6 years from Measles. "She has been blind for many years, if I do not take care of her no one will, this is the main reason I have been on the islands to take care of her"
Majok Bichok, age unknown, at the World Food Program registration site in Nyal. He had to make a one and half hour trek helped by family members from his residence in Nyandong to Nyal to ensure he was physically present for the registration. His hope is for WFP to help him soon.
An elderly woman at the World Food Program registration site in Nyal.
After taking a rest at the island at Thorbiel Island, Nyadak talks to Kujiek Ruot Kuajien and narrates what she does daily taking care of her mother; her dreams to seem to hang on her shoulders.“The main reason we went to the island was that we were told there might be an attacked and all of us shall be killed. I do not know where my father and siblings are. I came with mum here since she is sick and cannot run in case of any problems on the mainland. My daily routine is to ensure she is fed, and take her to the toilet since she has no power to do so. The food we get here comes from Kawaini (white people referring to Oxfam). They bring us in these white boats. I do not know their names. They are the same people who came and took us for the registration; if they did not come we would have missed out. I just want to thank them for doing that. I cannot manage to fish or get lilies in the swamps so when there is no food we rely on people from the island who share the little they got with us. This is how we do our life. I have never gone to school. Since my mother got sick the thought of ever going to school is next to impossible, especially now. My young brother is in school in Garbec. If I get the chance to go to school, I would like to be a doctor so that I can treat people like my mother who are suffering from diseases.
An Oxfam wash personnel (right) going with the team to the islands where he is based with other colleagues to monitor and do hygiene promotion in the islands. Next to him is a wheelchair for a vulnerable woman who has been paralyzed by an ailment.
A type of tuber that grows with lilies in the river that people eat as a means of coping strategy when there is no food due to famine, conflicts, and other calamities.
Nyabor Puot and IDP from Thorbuoni in Mayandit do not know where her husband is. She said when there is peace she can go back home since it is not easy living in such conditions now. She left her nice Tukul home to live in such a structure as she is now. She survives on water lilies.
Belongings of the IDPs which were the only ones they could manage to carry with themselves from the journey. The host at the island could only afford a mat for them to sit on by the time of our arrival.
OXFAM community hygiene promoter (CHP) Tabitha Nyakuok Meat takes school children through the disadvantages of open defecation and the importance of hygiene in Tiam Boma, Nyadong Payam, Panyijiar county.
Women and children from Mayandit that arrived in Garbec. They walked for close to 5 or 6 days before getting to their current location.
Marol Gek Tap from Kuer in Mayandit seemingly taking care of his calves after walking with it for the long period. Both must have been luck to reach the Garbek alive. “I miss my class, i am in class 1 B. All my books are back in Mayandit. I want to go back to school so that one day i shall become a teacher.†He said as he continued to tender is animal. According to the group that has arrived, several children, animals, women and men are still on the way. They used plastic sheets to float most of them across the river, held by some strong men on the sides to cross the river.
March 6, 2017 – Unity, South Sudan. Tabitha Nyawich Kong in Nyal, after fleeing conflict in her village. “We were chased from our residence in Buor Payam, Mayandit. When it happened, I wished I hadn’t returned the year prior. It is so unfortunate that the conflict resurfaced. I don’t think I will go back until I am sure it’s safe. Most of our animals died on the way but it was the children and the elderly who had the hardest time. Those who couldn’t run were left behind -- hopefully they’ll survive. We fed on water lilies, ‘Keay’, fish and anything we could find in the riverâ€.