Ethnic Violence in Southern Sudan

Jonglei state has seen the highest level of violence in South Sudan since the war. Hundreds of people have died in the past year in cattle raids and retaliatory attacks involving the small Jie tribe and the majority Murle tribe. Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp/guardian.co.uk Boma is home to a number of different tribes. To the north is the homeland of the Murle, the small Jie tribe live around Boma, and their relatives, the Toposa, live to the far south. Some groups farm, but most are cattle keepers. Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp/guardian.co.uk Tamuto Martin, a Murle woman, was shot in the elbow as she was entering her house with her children. The police suspect she was shot by Jie trying to avenge the death of one of their tribe. She is being treated in Boma hospital run by Merlin . This is the only surgical hospital in the region and one of the few places the Murle feel safe after four Murle people were killed in the hospital of the provincial capital, Bor, in 2007. Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp/guardian.co.uk An elder of the Murle community who was shot in the shoulder shortly after the murder of a Jie man. The police suspect he was shot by a Jie trying to avenge the death of one of their tribe in Jonglei state, Southern Sudan. Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp/guardian.co.uk Last year's rains were poor and it looks like they will be no better this year. As a result, malnutrition is rife. Families, including Akul Nadai and her baby, are living off berries and small helpings of milk from their weakened cattle. Merlin staff are distributing Plumpy Nut (nutritional food) at the hospital. The World Food Programme has predicted that 4 million people will need food assistance in South Sudan during 2010. Of those, 1.8 million are at severe risk of malnutrition. Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp/guardian.co.uk Exacerbating the already difficult conditions in Boma, are the incidences of child abduction. Dozens of children have been abducted by profiteers and criminals. This child, the son of an elderly Jie chief, was abducted by the Murle for a year. The Government captured the child and brought him back. Less powerful families never see their children again. Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp/guardian.co.uk Nine-month pregnant Nachebei Lotapat was brought in to Boma hospital after she had started haemorrhaging. Family members had carried her for 45 minutes from her Jie village. By the time she arrived, she had lost huge amounts of blood, had passed out and was in shock. Doctor Mumbi carried out an urgent caesarian section. The baby was still-born. If the operation had been carried out any later, Nachebei would also have lost her life. South Sudan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Not surprising, when there is only one certified midwife for every 100,000 pregnant women. Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp/guardian.co.uk Hospital staff like Dr Essai are busy treating people injured in the conflict, as well as those suffering from malnutrition, malaria and acute watery diarrhoea. South Sudan has some of the worst health indicators in the world, but a shocking lack of trained health workers. According to USAID there are only 200 doctors serving a population of 10 million. Manual Abush walked for five days to receive treatment at the hospital. Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp Photograph: Merlin/Trevor Snapp/guardian.co.uk