Sudan Diary

The second installment of Bishop Hubbard’s diary of his trip to Sudan is here. In the following excerpt, he describes some of the work done by Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

In Southern Sudan, CRS staff focuses on agriculture, education, health, peacemaking and emergency relief. During the civil war between 1983 and 2005, CRS staff endured all the dangers and humiliations that were experienced by the local populous. Because of this solidarity, CRS remains one of the most well-known and respected humanitarian organizations in Southern Sudan.

Given the high security risk in many parts of the South, international staff serving CRS in Southern Sudan cannot be accompanied by any family members. This is another huge sacrifice they make.

CRS Southern Sudan operates in an extremely complex environment. Large portions of the country are flood prone, meaning that above-normal rains can lead to displacement as well as crop failure. At the same time, a year without sufficient rain can be equally devastating, leaving drought-affected households unable to produce sufficient food supplies.

Insecurity, including intra- and inter-tribal conflicts, is a constant presence in Southern Sudan and forces tens of thousands of households into a state of internal displacement every year.

CRS Southern Sudan’s Emergency Preparedness and Response program provides support to these populations, including food, temporary shelter materials and essential household and hygiene items.