Water is LIFE
Water is LIFE
By Scott Nordstrom
Adoor Village, SOUTH SUDAN
I learned on one of my early trips to Africa that water is life.
I imagine that many of you are like me that when you want water you go to the faucet in your home. We can can count on water being provided and there is confidence that the water is clean. There is not much effort required except that you may have to go to an adjacent kitchen or bathroom.
Can you imagine having to go miles to get your water?
This is what recently happened in Adoor, South Sudan, when the hand-pump stopped working. Not only the children having no access to water is a problem, but how would we deliver enough water to prepare food for 1,149 children to this remote location?
These are the types of things we experience periodically that cannot be properly planned for. Earlier this month repairs for this borehole at Adoor were required. We provided funding from what is already limited resources to provide food and water to these children.
This is an awesome work where so many are joined together to serve these children. Christ Mission to the World is our local partner that provisions this aid. Kids for the Kingdom also supplements the food provided to the children who are not considered orphaned, and Global Orphan Relief provides the balance targeted to the 603 orphaned children. Below are recent scenes from the well repair at the Adoor Primary School:
As can be seen, a small crowd gathered to observe the repairs taking place. This infrastructure is the lifeblood of this school and for the community at-large.
Along with food aid being provisioned, these children are encouraged to attend school because of the food and water that is provided, and they also have the benefit of hearing about Jesus from the staff. The teachers and the kitchen staff are also volunteers in an effort to serve the children.
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CURRENT CONDITIONS IN SOUTH SUDAN:
According to IPC, in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, an estimated 893,000 people (46% of the State’s population) are facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity between September and November 2023, of which 310,000 people are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity, and 583,000 people are in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) acute food insecurity.
In South Sudan, the drivers of food insecurity are prolonged dry spells, closure of trade routes between Sudan and South Sudan that have affected market functionality and led to high food prices, low household income and purchasing power, and the influx of returnees and refugees from Sudan.
The deterioration is mainly driven by the ongoing depletion of harvested stocks, reduced access to milk as livestock migrate in search of water and pasture, gradual increase of food prices, continued closure of trade routes between Sudan and South Sudan that will result in high food prices, reduced income at household level, and the influx of returnees and refugees from Sudan.
The risk factors to monitor during the project periods include the influx of returnees and refugees from Sudan, impacts of the conflict in Sudan on the state’s markets, high food prices, seasonal deterioration of road networks during the rainy season and associated impacts on market functionality, rainfall performance, cattle-related conflicts and insecurity, and election related insecurity fears.
Northern Bahr El Ghazal State has five counties with an estimated total population of 1.9 million. An estimated 255,129 cases with acute malnutrition need nutrition services in the State. Over one million children in South Sudan are likely to face extreme levels of malnutrition in the first half of 2024, cautions the World Food Programme (WFP).
Global Orphan Relief (GO!) in partnership with Christ Mission to the World (CMW) establishes feeding centres at village schools to provide meals to orphan children which has inspired many orphan children to attend school.
Children at Luethwek, South Sudan, receiving meals.
We have served in South Sudan since 2016 and have provided an estimated 2.1 million meals impacting more than 3,200 children in South Sudan. The scale of this initiative has grown by over 7 times since our launch in 2016, and this growth is driven by the near-famine conditions, the influx of refugees from Sudan, and other socio-economic challenges in this country.
In cooperation with partners, Kids for the Kingdom, Christ Mission to the World, and 200 Orphanages, there has been $164,000 invested in four school sites since October 2020. This investment provides for clean water, kitchens, storerooms, and latrines, all which allow for cost-effective distribution of food aid in these communities.
Global Orphan Relief (GO) has been serving orphaned children since 2005. We have accomplished this work through local in-country partners that provide oversight and distribution of care.
In 2024, we launched a fifth location to provide food aid at Aweil Town. This school received a water early last year thanks to 200 Orphanages World Wide and just recently assisted in completing latrines at this location.. 709 vulnerable children attend Aweil Town Primary School, with 251 of these children being orphaned. Christ Mission to the World, our local field partner, has built a cook shelter where food is prepared for the children. We are currently in the need of additional funding to sustain food aid being provided at this location. For more information on assisting us in this effort go to Aweil Town Launch.
You may send support or other correspondence to Global Orphan Relief, 16352 Prairie Farm Cir, Parker, CO 80134 or you may give also give electronically at Nutrition Initiative or you may give on this website at the upper righthand corner under ‘Donate’ and choosing Nutrition under the Fund designation.
Movement of FAITH | Voice of HOPE | Act of LOVE
Global Orphan Relief is a Christian relief agency serving Orphans in need and a recognized U.S. public charity, tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3). All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.