Emergency Relief in Tambura

Tambura, located in the Western Equatoria State of South Sudan, is known for its green landscapes, dense forests and fertile agricultural land. The area has a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, making it suitable for growing crops such as maize, cassava and groundnuts. It does not seem like the place for a humanitarian emergency at first. But a violent conflict can quickly change everything. When Medair's Emergency Response Team received an alert that a conflict had disrupted access to health services, they were determined to intervene. But heavy rains during the rainy season have made the roads impassable, limiting access to the region. So our colleagues coordinated with our partner, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), to deliver aid to those most in need.  

Help by aeroplane

We accompany our Emergency Response Team as they receive a new shipment of relief supplies transported by our partner MAF. Medair and MAF have been working together for over 30 years in crisis regions, closely united by our Christian faith, to provide aid to people in need. Medair specialises in providing emergency relief in remote and hard-to-reach places. MAF's pilots are experts in using their specially equipped aircraft to transport aid to such locations and to land safely in places with poor infrastructure.

Iisaki is our pilot for the trip to Tambura. It was his childhood dream to become a pilot. He has been working for MAF in South Sudan since October 2023 and tells us:

“We are the ones who help those who help others, by transporting supplies or humanitarian workers. For me, this is something very beautiful. Serving others and flying planes is a perfect match for me. It can be heartbreaking to see the needs of the people in this country. But no matter how little we bring; it can make such a difference to them and that fills my heart with joy.”

Today, he flies medical supplies to Tambura for Medair. Especially rapid tests and medicines to diagnose and treat malaria. During the rainy season, the female Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit the often-deadly malaria parasite to people in the region are particularly abundant. Tambura is located in a remote area near the border with the Central African Republic. There is no airport near here. However, the weather and Iisaki’s experience allow us to make a relatively soft landing on the gravel airstrip on the outskirts of the small town.

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Standing in the Gaps

Our Health and Nutrition Manager, Jonathan, is relieved that our plane has landed safely with the supplies.

On the way to our clinic, Jonathan explains the situation on the ground:  

“Our Emergency Response Team has been here for six weeks. Recently, a violent conflict broke out between two local groups. Thousands of families have been displaced and several hospitals and health facilities have been destroyed. The displaced people are currently living in informal settlements and health services are very poor. Many are sick and cannot find help. Medicines are scarce. Our mission is to fill this gap.”

When we arrive, Jonathan gives us a tour of the Medair clinic.

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Jonathan states:

“We treat patients of all ages. Many patients come with symptoms of malaria, they are then tested, and treated if they are infected. In our emergency unit, we stabilise patients or, if necessary, transfer them to the nearest bigger health facility . Our team also provides antenatal and postnatal care and we can  transfer the mothers to nearby hospitals for delivery. We provide basic vaccinations for children and assess them for malnutrition. Children found to be severely malnourished are referred to a partner nutrition centre for treatment.”

Displaced by Conflict

Rachael is one of the 20,000 people forced to flee fighting between rival groups. She is staying in an informal camp for displaced families near the Medair-supported facility. Only a plastic sheet stretched over a makeshift structure of sticks gives Rachael and her nine children some privacy and protection from the extreme weather in Tambura.  

Rachael shares:

“I came here because of the conflict. The enemy came at night and attacked us. They wanted to kill us. That's why I came here, to be safe. It is very uncomfortable for us to sleep here. It's too cold and when it rains, the water gets into the tent. But I'm too scared to go home. We could get killed.”

Rachael and her youngest daughter, Emma, are sick and seeking help at our clinic.  

“It's because we sleep in the cold,” explains Rachael. “That's why we get sick. The child has a cough, diarrhoea and vomiting, and her body is hot. I have a bad headache and a cough, my eyes are red and watery when I cough.”

Free treatment for Rachael and Emma

After the assessment, Rachael is given free medication for herself and her daughter.  She will be followed up in a few days to check she is recovering.

Before we say goodbye, Rachael has a word of thanks for us: “I know that Medair has been doing a good job since the team started working here, providing free medicines and referring people to the nearest clinic for serious cases. I came here because it was the closest place. If the drugs weren't free, I wouldn't have the money to buy them. I am very happy they are free.”

It is moments like these that keep Jonathan and his colleagues motivated to do their best for people in need, despite the challenges of working in remote locations. Jonathan rejoices:

“It's great to see the positive impact we have here. We are so happy to see that what we give helps people and is appreciated by the community. And we also see physically that people do feel better after treatment. And that is very important. It's very encouraging; we feel that what we are offering is really making a difference.”

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Our Mission Continues

Sub-national conflict is one of the main causes of the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. Around nine million people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance. The security situation in Tambura has improved and many families have returned to their villages. Our team recently handed over the medical care to a partner organisation. This means that the service will remain in place in Tambura, and Medair will be able to move on to a new emergency elsewhere in South Sudan. We look forward to updating you and thank you for your important support.

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This intervention by Medair’s Emergency Response Team was co-funded by the European Union, and private donors.‍

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Medair conducted this intervention as a member of the Emergency Rapid Response Mechanism (ERRM) Consortium in South Sudan.

About the ERRM Consortium:

Co-funded by the European Union, the Emergency Rapid Response Mechanism (ERRM) Consortium is a collaborative effort between the Norwegian Refugee Council, Danish Refugee Council, Medair, and Solidarités International, along with national implementing partners. The ERRM provides coordinated and rapid lifesaving aid to crisis-affected communities in South Sudan, especially in hard-to-reach areas or areas with a low presence of humanitarian actors. Responses prioritize critical needs in health, nutrition, protection, shelter, water and sanitation, and education in emergencies.

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.  

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