Reference :
V-P-SS-E-00925
Date :
24/05/2017
Caption :
Equatorias region, Torit, central prison. A 19 years old detainee: “I used to borrow a phone and call one of our neighbors to get news from my family. But since all of them fled to Uganda I have no way of contacting them and don’t know where they are. I am afraid of the day I will be released. I don’t know where to go, don’t know what to do. It is dangerous for a young girl to be on her own.”
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
South Sudan: Detainees lose vital support as families flee violence and food insecurity
Isolation and dependence makes people deprived of freedom extremely vulnerable. At the same time, in most states, prisons are never a priority and financial resources allocated to them are often too scarce. In South Sudan this situation is exacerbated by years or armed conflict and severe economic crisis the country is facing.
Most detainees here rely on their families for essentials like food, soap and clothes. But thousands of people flee across the borders to escape violence, while others are struggling with the current food crisis. At the same time, many roads are cut by frontlines and become too dangerous to travel. This means that many families are no longer able to support their relatives in prison and detainees lose the vital lifeline and become more isolated than ever.
The ICRC works in places of detention to monitor treatment and conditions of detainees and respond to the most urgent humanitarian needs. We focus on detainees’ dignity, access to adequate food, sanitation and medical care. We also try to ensure they can maintain contact with their families during their detainment.
Our support includes direct assistance to the detainees with food and hygiene items, the repair of essential infrastructure like sewage and water systems, as well as improving access to basic healthcare. At the same time, we work with detention authorities to try to find long term solutions, providing advice for management of detention facilities and facilitating high-level discussions.
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
5034x3356
Orientation :
landscape
Colour/B&W :
colour
