Portraits from Hell

Portraits from Hell

More than 2 million displaced, unknown thousands of dead, and countless raped and maimed: the South Sudan civil war provoked the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world. Fightings continue in the Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile states, and other millions people are forced to leave their homes. The soldiers of UNMISS mission have not been able to prevent many attacks on civilian around their bases. The situation, because of famine starting, become worst day after day. But reporting from South Sudan crisis is not so simple. Many South sudanese journalists are being kidnapped, tortured, burned. The work of foreign journalists is not easier. The witnesses of brutality are afraid. In South Sudan, decades of civil war have resulted in widespread trauma, and the chronically underdeveloped nation is struggling to provide facilities, staff and treatment for those in need of mental healthcare. The South Sudan Medical Journal reports that depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and substance abuse are major mental health issues affecting the country. The only recent prevalence data derive from a 2007 survey of 1,242 adults in Juba, which found that 36 percent of respondents met symptom criteria for PTSD and half met symptom criteria for depression.

by Ugo Borga

More than 2 million displaced, unknown thousands of dead, and countless raped and maimed: the South Sudan civil war provoked the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world. Fightings continue in the Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile states, and other millions people are forced to leave their homes. The soldiers of UNMISS mission have not been able to prevent many attacks on civilian around their bases. The situation, because of famine starting, become worst day after day. But reporting from South Sudan crisis is not so simple. Many South sudanese journalists are being kidnapped, tortured, burned. The work of foreign journalists is not easier. The witnesses of brutality are afraid. In South Sudan, decades of civil war have resulted in widespread trauma, and the chronically underdeveloped nation is struggling to provide facilities, staff and treatment for those in need of mental healthcare. The South Sudan Medical Journal reports that depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and substance abuse are major mental health issues affecting the country. The only recent prevalence data derive from a 2007 survey of 1,242 adults in Juba, which found that 36 percent of respondents met symptom criteria for PTSD and half met symptom criteria for depression.

Juba, south sudan: refugee camp in a cemetry in town south sudan: refugee camp Bor, jongley sate, south sudan: people diyng because famine in the hospital Juba, south sudan: refugee camp in Mingkamann, lakes state: women during the wfp food distribution Bor, jongley sate, south sudan: people diyng because famine in the hospital Juba, south sudan: refugee camp in Mingkamann: people leaving the camp searching food in other camps Juba, south sudan: refugee camp, mingkaman, lakes state. a result of famine on a young woman and your mother south sudan: on the road of refugees and cows.many peoples diyng because violence or famine during the travel Bor, jongley sate, south sudan: people diyng because famine in the hospital Jsouth sudan: refugee camp in mingkamann: people searching some food in the bush south sudan: refugee camp in Mingkamann, lakes state: women during the wfp food distribution south sudan: refugee camp in mingkamann: a pregnant woman suffering because famine Bor, jongley sate, south sudan: people diyng because famine in the hospital outh sudan: refugee camp in Mingkamann, lakes state: child during the wfp food distribution Juba, south sudan: refugee camp in Mingkamann: people leaving the camp searching food in other camps Juba, south sudan: refugee camp in Mingkamann, lakes state: dance for marriage south sudan: refugee camp in mingkamann: a woman suffering because famine Juba, south sudan: refugee camp in Mingkamann, lakes state: women during the wfp food distribution Juba, south sudan: refugee camp in mingkamann: hospital of italian ong south sudan: on the road of refugees and cows.many peoples diyng because violence or famine during the travel Juba, south sudan: refugee camp in town. a woman with arms and legs burned durind the clashes outh sudan: refugee camp in Mingkamann, lakes state: child during the wfp food distribution south sudan: refugee camp in mingkamann, lakes state South sudan, lakes state: a family waiting a boat to escape from violence in jongley state Juba, south sudan: refugee camp in town. a woman with arms and legs burned durind the clashes south sudan: refugee camp in Unity Juba, south sudan: refugee camp in a cemetry in town south sudan: refugee camp in mingkamann: a woman suffering because famine Juba, south sudan: on the road of refugees many peoples diyng because violence or famine Bor, jongley sate, south sudan: people diyng because famine in the hospital Juba, south sudan: refugee camp in a cemetry, in town Jsouth sudan: refugee camp in the lakes state south sudan: old man from jongley state in a refugee camp Juba, south sudan: on the road of refugees many peoples diyng because violence or famine south sudan: refugee camp in mingkamann, lakes state Jsouth sudan: refugee camp in mingkamann: old people from upper nile state suffering because famine south sudan: refugee camp in mingkamann: a woman with is children suffering because famine south sudan: old man from jongley state in a refugee camp