When the Republic of South Sudan seceded from North Sudan last summer and declared itself an independent nation, the international community wondered how the two nations would fare. Poverty-stricken and oil-rich, South Sudan has been fighting with North Sudan since long before its official secession.
Nearly a year after South Sudan’s declared independence, the refugees from North Sudan that are flocking across the border into refugee camps are dehydrated, weak, malnourished, and suffering from a variety of treatable but potentially dangerous conditions. The volunteer group Doctors Without Borders reports that, while modern medicine knows simple treatments for many of the conditions displayed by the refugees (including diarrhea and dehydration), water and medical supplies are quickly dwindling because of the sheer number of people in need of essentials.
At the moment, Doctors Without Borders is providing vaccination against measles and a daily ration of water for the tens of thousands of refugees in the area. The organization has set up field hospitals in two refugee camps and a permanent clinic in a third.
About Rao Chalasani: A former Risk Strategist and Chief Technological Officer for various Wall Street banks, Rao Chalasani supports the charitable work of Doctors Without Borders, which serves people in need in more than 60 countries. Rao Chalasani also contributes to the efforts of the Sankara Eye Foundation, UNICEF, and Sakhi.