The Things We Take For Granted #SouthSudan

Link to web article here.

As Elliott and I stroll out into the backyard to enjoy the warm winters sun, we sit on the grass and look up and watch the rainbow lorikeets and cockatoos flying overhead. Elliott hears an aeroplane in the distance, he stands up to find where it is and when he spots it, plays out his best aeroplane imitation.

Elliott starts jumping on his trampoline, giggling with delight. It’s peaceful as I lay on the grass staring up into the clear blue sky, there’s no worry in the world, it’s a perfect afternoon and I can smell the dinner cooking in the slow cooker. 

As I get lost deep in thought, my mind shifts to thinking about what I learnt at the World Vision Australia Blogger Ambassador Day of the humanitarian crisis happening right now South Sudan, one of the worst humanitarian crisis' of our time. 

I start to think about the children in South Sudan who cannot walk outside their house as we have just done and play in their backyard and the children and families that do not have a house to feel safe in.

Image Credit: World Vision

The conflict in South Sudan is taking a devastating toll on children who are being killed, injured and witnessing brutal attacks on their families and communities.

Hundreds of thousands of children have fled their homes to seek refuge from violence. As the conflict intensifies, there will be even further displacement, increasing the risk of children becoming separated from family members and vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.  

As at May 2014, 1.4 million people are estimated to have been displaced by violence with 539,000 children reported within this number. 4,460 children have been identified as separated or orphaned and 4 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. 

I imagine Elliott as one of those children and my heart absolutely breaks. 

I start to think about the families in South Sudan who struggle to eat while we have an abundance of food which often goes to waste and I go through my usual daily task of preparing dinner so easily.

In South Sudan, nearly two thirds of the population are at risk of food insecurity and dangerous levels of malnutrition threaten a quarter of a million children in South Sudan. Unless they are reached with treatment, up to 50,000 children under age five could die.

I imagine Elliott as one of those children and my heart breaks, again.

Image Credit: World Vision

I then recall this image from Chelsea at Moments A Day which has had such an impact on me in the past: 

I have often complained about so many of these things, but to the people in South Sudan, these things are what determines their survival. To people of South Sudan, it's a very different picture that likely looks a little something like this: 

Early wakeups = Gather food and walk long distances to collect water

House to clean = They don't have a house to clean or a safe place to live.

Laundry =  They likely have only the clothes on their back which are in desperate need of repair.

Dirty Dishes = The people of South Sudan have little food to eat and so would not have dirty dishes

Crumbs under table =  No food, no crumbs.  

Shopping to do =  There is no such luxury.

Toilets to clean = There is no such luxury.

Lots of noise = The noise of violence most often outweighs the noise of children's laughter

Endless questions = 'When will we have our next meal? Where will we sleep tonight?'

Getting into bed sore and tired = Not just after a hard day at work, but due to injury from violence.

Image Credit: World Vision

While you think of the things you are grateful for in your life, take some time to think about the families in countries like South Sudan. It may seem like a world away and another crisis to add to the list of what is happening in the world, but it's real and so are these families, they're probably very similar yours.