Aid Cuts Blamed for Deaths in South Sudan Cholera Crisis

A tragic incident in South Sudan resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, including five children, during a three-hour journey in scorching heat. The victims were attempting to reach a cholera treatment center. Reports indicate that three of the deceased children were under the age of five.

The deaths are linked to the closure of local health services, a consequence of aid cuts initiated by the United States. These reductions in funding were implemented following a policy shift.

Save the Children, a UK-based charity, has stated that these deaths are among the first directly attributable to the funding cuts. Experts have expressed concerns that these cuts, including the cancellation of a significant portion of USAID contracts, could lead to a surge in mortality rates in the coming years due to increased vulnerability to diseases.

The US State Department responded by stating that they did not have information about the deaths reported by Save the Children. They emphasized that while some US government programs providing essential aid in South Sudan remain active, support for medical services had also been used to enrich the country's leaders.

The South Sudanese government has acknowledged instances of public corruption but has denied specific accusations of graft. Humanitarian aid to the country is often managed through non-governmental organizations, primarily due to concerns about corruption.

Save the Children previously supported numerous health facilities in eastern South Sudan. However, due to the US funding cuts, several of these facilities were forced to close completely or partially. The organization also reported that the cessation of US-funded transport services left the cholera patients with no option but to walk in extreme heat to seek treatment.

In addition to the US cuts, gradual reductions by other donors have further strained the humanitarian response in South Sudan. Save the Children anticipates a decrease in its spending in the country in the coming years.

South Sudan faces significant challenges, with a large portion of its population displaced by conflict or natural disasters. The United Nations has warned of the potential for renewed civil war. A cholera outbreak declared last October has resulted in thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths.