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As the humanitarian response continues, it is clear that sustained assistance will be needed to help the people of Aweil recover from this latest disaster.
The northern parts of South Sudan, particularly Aweil in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, has been hit hard by relentless flooding, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The floods have had a particularly devastating impact on returnees, many of whom had recently resettled in Aweil after months of displacement due to the ongoing crisis in neighboring Sudan. These returnees, who had begun the slow process of rebuilding their lives, now find themselves displaced once more, their hopes for stability washed away with the floodwaters.
As the water levels rose, entire villages were submerged, and families were forced to flee their homes, taking only what they could carry. Makeshift camps have sprung up in higher areas that remain above water, but these temporary shelters are overcrowded, with inadequate access to clean water, food, and sanitation facilities. The conditions in these areas are dire, and diseases such as malaria and cholera may be easy to spread, exacerbated by stagnant floodwaters and a lack of medical supplies. Many children and elderly are falling ill, compounding the community’s sense of despair.
For the returnees, this disaster is particularly heartbreaking. Having already endured years of displacement and conflict, they had returned to Aweil in search of peace and the chance to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. Many had invested their savings into small farms, hoping to cultivate crops that would sustain them. Now, their fields are underwater, and the crops they were counting on for food and income have been destroyed. Families who had started to find their footing are once again plunged into uncertainty, unsure of where they will sleep or how they will feed their children in the days to come as they continually depend on fish from the flood waters.
For the returnees in particular, the flooding represents a tragic reversal of the fragile progress they had made since returning home. Their resilience and determination, however, remain a source of hope.
Beyond the direct impact on homes and farms, the flooding has also severely damaged infrastructure. Roads, which are critical for accessing essential services, have become impassable, isolating entire communities. Health centers, already under-resourced, are now cut off from those who need them most. Expectant mothers, children suffering from malnutrition, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, as they can no longer reach health facilities for vital care. In some cases, patients have had to be transported by boat or carried on makeshift stretchers over long distances just to receive basic medical attention.
The road between Malualkon and the rural communities, which serves as the lifeline for delivering food, medical supplies, and other essential goods, is completely submerged in many areas. Vehicles attempting to navigate these roads are frequently stuck or washed away by the strong currents, making it impossible for humanitarian organizations to deliver aid to those in need. This has further compounded the crisis, as displaced families in remote areas are left without access to the relief supplies that could provide some measure of comfort.
The community’s resilience is being tested like never before. Local leaders have been appealing for assistance, but the scale of the disaster is overwhelming. In response, humanitarian organizations have ramped up efforts to provide emergency relief, setting up temporary shelters and delivering food aid. However, the needs far exceed the resources available. Many families remain without adequate shelter, exposed to the elements as they wait for aid to reach them. The long-term impacts of this flooding disaster are likely to be severe. With much of the farmland destroyed, food insecurity looms large over the region. Even as the rains begin to subside, the floodwaters are expected to take months to recede, delaying any attempts at recovery. As a result, displaced families will likely remain in temporary camps for an extended period, facing an uncertain future.
For the returnees in particular, the flooding represents a tragic reversal of the fragile progress they had made since returning home. Their resilience and determination, however, remain a source of hope. With the right support, they may yet find a way to rebuild once more, but the road to recovery will be long and challenging. As the humanitarian response continues, it is clear that sustained assistance will be needed to help the people of Aweil recover from this latest disaster, rebuild their lives, and prepare for the next challenge, as climate-related events like these floods become an ever-more frequent threat to their survival.
These athletes are a testament to what people can overcome—but nobody should have to; hunger is manmade, and the solutions can be, too.
To meet the nutritional needs of 15,000 athletes and staff from 208 countries and territories, the 2024 Paris Olympics will need to prepare 40,000 meals every day—which adds up to 1.2 million meals, including 3 million bananas and 27 tons of coffee.
Their diverse sports demand very different requirements. Some athletes must maintain an exact weight, while others may need to increase their carbohydrate or protein intake. After all, nutrition fuels athletic performance.
And yet, some athletes come from places where malnutrition is a constant concern. In many parts of the world, hunger is deeply linked to conflict, which has been on the rise. More than 117 million people were forcibly displaced last year. It can create a vicious cycle, as many displaced people face hunger and uncertainty. But, their stories don’t have to end there.
As we prepare to cheer on the Refugee Olympic Team, we’re spotlighting accomplished athletes and their countries of origin—all places where Action Against Hunger runs programs that can help the next generation realize their potential.
Talent is everywhere, and it can become greatness when it is nourished. For proof, look no further than the Refugee Olympic Team. Launched at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, the team is a symbol of hope. This year, the team is composed of 37 athletes from 15 National Olympic Committees, competing across 12 sports. To be eligible, an athlete must be a top competitor in their sport and a refugee in their host country.
Action Against Hunger is familiar with the ongoing global refugee crisis, which has surged in recent years. Conflict is a major driving force behind the growing displacement, and more forced displacement equals more hunger—more than 85% of people living in conflict-affected countries are experiencing food insecurity.
As we prepare to cheer on the Refugee Olympic Team, we’re spotlighting accomplished athletes and their countries of origin—all places where Action Against Hunger runs programs that can help the next generation realize their potential.
After decades of conflict and growing climate stress, 24 million Afghans, or nearly 60% of the population, need help to afford food and other basic necessities. Studies have shown that a majority of the population also is dealing with mental health challenges, which can be deeply linked to hunger.
A number of athletes originally from Afghanistan are part of the Refugee Olympic Team. We’ll be rooting for them:
Conflict has created a hunger crisis in Syria, where people are dealing with shattered infrastructure and soaring inflation. A full 6.7 million Syrians have been displaced, and 90% of the population lives in poverty, with 64% relying on humanitarian assistance to survive.
Here are some of the impressive Syrian refugee athletes we’re cheering on during the Olympics:
Hunger has long been widespread in Sudan, and when civil war broke out last year, things became even worse. Sudan’s health system is under extreme stress and millions of people face crisis levels of hunger, yet only 30% of its hunger-related programs are funded.
In this year’s Paris games, two outstanding athletes originally from Sudan are competing on the Refugee Olympic Team:
Recently one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, Ethiopia now faces one of the 10 worst food crises on the planet. Conflict and climate-related drought have taken a toll. An estimated 40% of its children under five are stunted, meaning that chronic or recurring malnutrition is preventing them from reaching typical growth milestones.
Here are two Ethiopian athletes participating in this year’s Refugee Olympic Team:
These athletes are a testament to what people can overcome—but nobody should have to. Hunger is manmade, and the solutions can be, too. Together, we can create a world where every life is well nourished.
We hope you’ll join us in showing your support for athletes and refugees during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Cheer them on, share their stories, and post about them on your socials. Note the link between nutrition and performance in sports and in life, celebrate the talent that can emerge from hardship, and help bring attention to the tens of millions who still need support.
"Avoiding famine cannot be done with ongoing hostilities," said an international coalition.
With Israel blocking aid and decimating all infrastructure that Palestinians in Gaza have used to feed the population, a coalition of international human rights groups on Wednesday said that nothing less than "an immediate and permanent cease-fire" is needed to ensure the enclave does not descend into famine.
Fifteen groups including Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and Action Against Hunger issued a joint statement demanding an immediate end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza as it became clear that the Biden administration's efforts to provide aid to civilians are backfiring.
Weeks after high-level White House officials negotiated a shipment of flour to Gaza, where just 15 out of 97 bakeries are operational following Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich blocked the transfer of the flour from the port of Ashdod.
The shipment was supposed to be sent through the Kerem Shalom crossing, but has been held up at Ashdod for several weeks because Smotrich was told the flour was destined for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The aid agency for Palestinians in Gaza has lost significant funding in recent weeks due to Israel's unsubstantiated claim that 12 of the group's employees were involved in a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel last October.
An Israeli dossier examined by Channel 4 in the U.K. this month provided no evidence that UNRWA workers were involved in the attack, but the U.S. and other countries have nonetheless refused to reinstate funding for the agency, on which Gaza's 2.3 million residents heavily relied for aid even before the war.
In their statement, the aid groups on Wednesday warned that "the only way to comply with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2417," which condemns the use of starvation as a weapon of war, is to agree to an immediate and permanent cease-fire and allow all humanitarian aid to reach victims in Gaza.
"The siege tactics imposed by Israel on Gaza are one of the key factors impeding the delivery of aid," said the groups. "Under international humanitarian law, parties to the conflict are obliged to facilitate rapid unfettered access to aid."
The groups released the statement as Israel was expected to begin a ground offensive in Rafah, where 1.5 million peopleare now living following the displacement of about 85% of Gaza residents—as the city has been labeled a "safe zone."
Dozens have been killed in bombings on the city in recent days as Palestinians seek shelter in makeshift tents, all while struggling to feed their families.
Matthew Hollingsworth, Palestine country director for the World Food Program, described how the city is "packed with a throng of humans" who have been forced to spend their days "bustling around, looking for support, for assistance, for fuel to burn to keep warm or cook, looking for food, being elsewhere other than a fairly damp, cold, and miserable [makeshift] home."
The aid groups noted that Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Phase Classification (IPC) analysis from late last year found that the entire population of Gaza was living in a state of "crisis-level hunger," with 1 in 4 households—more than half a million people—facing "catastrophic" hunger, defined as "an extreme lack of food, starvation, and exhaustion of coping capacities."
"This is the highest proportion of any population in food security crisis and above on the IPC's global records," said the groups. "Virtually all households are skipping meals each day. Some families go days and nights without eating."
The groups added that the United Nations has predicted a 27% increase in child wasting—which occurs when a child is too thin for their height as the result of rapid weight loss—in the coming months unless a cease-fire is brokered and humanitarian aid is restored.
Two-thirds of Gaza's population relied on daily aid deliveries before the current Israeli escalation, and now needs have "largely increased and worsened," said the groups, due partially to the destruction of agricultural fields, water pipelines, and other food infrastructure.
"The prevention of sufficient food aid from reaching the population and targeting food production and distribution infrastructure, including farms, water systems, mills, food processing and storing sites, hubs, and means for food transportation are a direct violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2417," said the groups.
"The only way to avoid the risk of famine is to immediately stop the deterioration of health, nutrition and food security, and increasing morbidity, through the restoration of health services, water and sanitation services, fisheries and agricultural lands, and markets," they added. "Avoiding famine cannot be done with ongoing hostilities."