[CMS] On a recent visit to the CMS offices. Stephen Lubari, education programme manager of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan (ECSSS), had a simple message from the world’s newest nation:

“Pray for peace, reconciliation and healing in South Sudan. Pray for those in the internally displaced people (IDP) camps and for those involved in the peace process – including the church which is working with the government and outside agencies to achieve this.”

The most pressing need for the IDPs, according to Stephen, is making sure that enough emergency relief reaches them in the shape of food, water and shelter – especially as April and May is when the rains start. The United Nations humanitarian coordination agency, UNOCHA, said in a situation report on 25 April that as many as 4.9 million people need humanitarian assistance.

Stephen has been in the UK for the past seven weeks as part of his post graduate studies in education. It will take him five years of distance learning to achieve his doctorate in education but he is determined "as this is needed to build my capacity to help the children of South Sudan in the process of education building," he explains.

During his time in the UK Stephen says he has taken every opportunity to explain to people about the true situation in South Sudan. But he doesn’t want anyone to think that South Sudan has given up on its desire for peace and he is very clear that South Sudanese people definitely want to move forward and start rebuilding their lives. 

He sees the recent coup, which broke out in South Sudan’s capital Juba on 15 December 2013 and quickly spread to other locations in the country, as a terrible situation – especially as the government of South Sudan had already begun peace talks with the rebel forces before the violence erupted. 

Seven out of the country’s 10 states were affected by the conflict with Central Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Unity and Upper Nile states being the hardest hit. 

Many people were killed, thousands had to flee their homes and lots of IDP camps were quickly set up by the UN. Everything was thrown into chaos. 

According to the UN, within the first four weeks of the crisis, almost 500,000 persons were displaced within South Sudan and around 74,300 people had crossed into neighbouring countries. These numbers continued to grow, with total displacement by the end of February 2014 reaching 900,000 persons - some 167,000 of whom crossed into neighbouring countries.

Most recently on 15 and 16 April 2014, hundreds of civilians were killed when South Sudanese rebels took control of a strategic oil-producing town of Bentiu in Unity State. 

Of course the country has been thrown into confusion and the IDPs and other have immediate needs for food, water and medical supplies. But Stephen stresses that it’s important that this situation "does not stop the peace process." 

He explains; "The church is engaged and leading the peace and reconciliation process in South Sudan. This is what the church is hoping will come to pass and there will be peace agreed in Addis Ababa." 

He says the incident in Unity state in Bentiu when rebels came into the town created mass confusion, as all conflict does, but this does not stop the peace process. "There was confusion but the peace talks are resuming very soon and are very promising and the president is committed to peace and the release of four detainees. There is still hope in South Sudan that there will be peace."

He continues: "When South Sudan became independent on 9 July 2011 there were a lot of hopes and people were committed to start a new life. There are still so many hopes for South Sudan, although things are still under conflict. At the moment the government and church are trying to work together to ensure there is peace in South Sudan." 

South Sudan’s independence was the culmination of a six-year peace process which began with the signing of a peace agreement on 9 January 2005 between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement -which ended more than 20 years of war.

Stephen highlights the fact that there’s much involvement from communities, government and international communities to achieve peace. Last week a high level ecumenical delegation representing global church organisations, including leaders of World Council of Churches, ACT Alliance and All Africa Conference of Churches, arrived in South Sudan’s capital Juba. 

The Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, said in a press statement that churches and political leaders must amplify the voices of people longing for justice and peace. "We express our support to them when they seek a way towards reconciliation, and a focus on rebuilding their nation and feeding their people," he added.

"The peace talks in Addis Ababa aim for the government and rebel groups to talk and the church is hoping for very sure this will come to pass and there will be peace," Stephen adds.

Stephen sums up: "We ask all the friends of ECSSS and the Anglican Church to help the immediate needs of people in IDP camps because the rains are starting and they have no shelter, no food, no water and no medicine. 

"And then thereafter there is a situation of wider health and education needs. This has to be also addressed because as the peace process is ongoing and people are being reinstalled they will need a recovery process – including health, education, trauma healing and counselling – as many people have been traumatised. 

"They will need workshops and training to help build hopes for the future."