Although Oxfam Great Britain (GB) had to leave northern Sudan in March 2009 Oxfam GB continues to work in southern Sudan. Oxfam Japan supports Oxfam GB's water and sanitation project in Western Equatoria State, Southern Sudan.

Southern Sudan is emerging from decades of brutal war, in which an estimated 2 million people died of conflict and disease, and 4 million people lost their homes. A peace agreement was signed between the North and South in 2005 – but southern Sudan remains one of the poorest and least developed regions in the world.

The leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Southern Sudan is Malaria followed by diarrhea. The key factor for high mortality related to diarrhea is the low coverage of safe drinking water and inadequate sanitation facilities coupled with limited awareness on safe hygiene practices.

Providing clean water can have a dramatic impact on people’s lives. A quarter of southern villages still rely on river water as their main source, which can make them particularly vulnerable to water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera. Lack of water sources can also affects issues like school attendance, with children taken out of the school in the dry season to collect water for their families. Oxfam’s programmes are aimed not only at providing urgent humanitarian aid, but working with communities to build a better long-term future for Sudan.

Oxfam distributes water buckets (two for each family) for water transportation and storage. (Photo: Jane Beesley/Oxfam)

Non functional boreholes are being rehabilitated.
During the dry season people in the community had to go three times a day to have enough water for cooking food, bathing the children and drinking. It could take anything from 1.5 to 3 hours. (Photo: Jane Beesley/Oxfam)

A volunteer water caretaker says, “We care for the borehole to keep it in good condition so it lasts longer, and keep the surroundings clean. When the community said they wanted us to go and train I felt very happy in my heart…" (Photo: Jane Beesley/Oxfam)

Lulu Works Trust Ltd Sudan is a business owned by women. They produce soap, skincare products, honey and cooking oil, all from local ingredients. This project has received support from Oxfam in the past. Oxfam is now buying soap for use in the compound and plan to buy soap for distribution. (Photo: Jane Beesley/Oxfam)

Mosquito net provided by Oxfam. This will prevent Malaria. (Photo: Jane Beesley/Oxfam)