Recent claims of chemical weapon usage in South Sudan has sent shockwaves through the international diaspora, with concerns among the South Sudanese community in Perth.
Abiyie Mackuach looks at his relatives. Photo: A-Lek Riakgol Gordon.
Vice President Riek Machar of South Sudan and the Ugandan People’s Defence Force are suspected to be working together to incite civil war to gain power from current President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
On March 19, multiple news outlets reported the UPDF killed at least 30 civilians and soldiers during their second strike attack in Nasir state, allegedly using chemical weaponry. The UPDF has refused these charges, claiming they don’t use or possess such weapons. Accurate information from the region has been hard to find, and the claims remain unverified.
Though South Sudan has been in and out of civil war since its birth, news of conflict brewing is still upsetting to the 9060 refugees who live in Australia. There is an emotional upheaval as many of their close friends and relatives live in impacted areas.
A timeline of the conflict. Infographic: A-Lek Riakgol Gordon.
Deng Aloor lived in a town during the Second Civil war that was routinely bombed by the government. He says and hearing that this is occurring again has brought back painful memories for him.
“In 1992, we were in Yiril town, it was a really populated area and the government would come and bomb us with aerial bombardment. It was really bad for us,” he says.
Refugee Abiyie Mackuach says he feels like there’s nothing he can do as the conflict is happening within the country’s own government, and good information has been hard to find.
“People are sitting on their hands, there’s not much we can do and we know our relatives are suffering.”
The bombs used have been banned under international law. Culturally, the South Sudanese are nomads who depend heavily on livestock and self sufficiency. Continuous use of barrel and cluster bombs threaten the livelihood of the culture and people.
“There’s some areas where trees don’t even grow. Animals don’t even go there. All the people who lived around those areas, those who survived, are having children with disabilities.”
South Sudanese refugee Mading Liath
Dinka children with cattle. Source: Supplied.
Australian humanitarian organisation CARE has stepped up their efforts in response to the worsening crisis. In order to help the estimated 270,000 refugees, basic necessities and health care are supplied by donations.
Despite these efforts to help those in South Sudan, the Australian diaspora feels they’re not receiving any emotional support.
“We urge the Australian government, so that we can have a link between us and the government of South Sudan. We also need a South Sudanese consulate because we don’t have an embassy here,” Mr Aloor says.
As the community struggles to assist their loved ones from a distance, the Australian government is asked to assist in bringing Salva Kiir and Riek Machar together to negotiate for peace.
