Even sitting in the capital city of Juba, I can only imagine what life must be like for those caught in the middle of this month-long war in South Sudan.    A month ago today, South Sudan was at peace.   On Dec 14^th Ann and I attended an outside dinner party hosted by the Ministry of Health commemorating the accomplishments of 2 ½ years of independence: the opening of hundreds of health facilities, training of young doctors and nurses, and improved health standards for over 10 million persons.   Seated at a table by the banks of the tranquil Nile River, we knew that the minor inconveniences we had endured (heat, isolation, disease) were far worth the benefits.  A month later….it has all unraveled.

The majority of the 24 counties we support have been in conflict or overtaken by opposition forces.  There are reports of hospitals and health centers pillaged by armed elements on either side, stocks of medicine pilfered, vaccination supplies, hospital equipment, health vehicles, etc….stolen or destroyed.   Worse, thousands of civilians caught in the middle have been gunned down or massacred; we have eye witness reports of bodies lining the streets.   A barge, carrying 200+ women and children across the Nile River to escape fighting from a town (Malakal, which Ann and I frequented), capsized and all perished.   We are hurriedly replenishing medicine and relief supplies in the capital city of Juba to send to the territories; but have no assurance the plane will be allowed to land.  We have been told that Juba is also under threat and have been assigned ‘evacuation points’ to go to in the event of a siege.  I cannot imagine such an event or retreat from the needs before us.

Pray for the people of South Sudan who endured 30 years of brutal oppression from Sudan (to the north) only to be thrust again in an internal war of their own.  “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they will be called the children of God”.....we seek them amongst the leaders of this nation….and “Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted” ..... we hold them in our hearts and in our prayers today.