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Safety nets unravelling and scores falling into debt to reach safety in South Sudan conflict

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Civilians fleeing from conflict in South Sudan are spiralling into debt and leaving behind important assets in their desperate search for safety.

Juba (17 January 2014) - Civilians fleeing from conflict in South Sudan are spiralling into debt and leaving behind important assets in their desperate search for safety.  Worldwide de

We're seeing people arrive in settlements in Juba and Awerial county with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
José Barahona
Country Director for Oxfam in South Sudan

Notes to Editors

Oxfam has been working in the territory now under the Republic of South Sudan since 1986 on emergency response and long-term development.

According to UNOCHA figures published on 14 January 2014, an estimated 413,000 people have been displaced since 15 December 2013 in South Sudan.

According to UNHCR figures updated on 16 January estimated 75,946 people from South Sudan are currently living as refugees in neighboring countries.

Oxfam's survey of new arrivals in Awerial settlement was conducted on 15 January 2014, information was gathered from 19 households (approximately 190 people), all of whom were new arrivals from the morning of the 15 or the evening of the 14 January. Oxfam's findings were:

  • The median average money paid per person to cross the Nile from Jonglei State to Lakes State was 200 South Sudanese Pounds ($88)
  • 53% of respondents had got into debt with ferrymen or neighbors to make the crossing / 26% of respondents had managed to sell or trade assets to pay for the crossing / 16% of respondents had money saved / 5% of respondents were given free passage
  • 58% of respondents had arrived with only clothing and sleeping materials and 42% had arrived with no belongings
  • 37% of respondents reported their homes destroyed by armed groups or their assets looted
  • 100% of respondents reported leaving behind either family members or vital assets like livestock and harvested food.

Contact Information

For more information or to arrange an interview with José Barahona, please contact:
Grace Cahill, Oxfam Media Officer in Juba on +211 956 708 278 / gcahill@oxfam.org.uk / @grace_cahill  or
Aimee Brown, Oxfam Regional Media Officer in Nairobi on +254 736 666 663 / abrown@oxfam.org.uk

The public can support Oxfam's humanitarian response to the crisis in South Sudan.

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