From Crisis to Care: Strengthening SRHR Access in Fragile Settings like South Sudan

In the ongoing humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, women and girls face mounting barriers to accessing vital Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services amid displacement, insecurity, and economic hardship. Despite some health facilities remaining operational, many women are unable to reach maternal care, family planning, or support for gender-based violence (GBV)—particularly in remote or conflict-affected areas.

“Even where facilities exist, distance, insecurity, and a shortage of trained personnel mean many women still give birth at home or delay seeking care,” explains Robert Cheng’un, Project Coordinator at Jamnel Care, a local NGO. “For young girls in rural communities or displaced women, accessing SRHR services can be nearly impossible.”

Cultural stigma, poverty, and low awareness further hinder progress, especially among adolescents. Overcrowded displacement camps, often lacking adequate health services, exacerbate these challenges as tensions and violence escalate across the country. Recent clashes outside Juba have displaced more families and restricted movement, making it even more difficult for women and girls to access care.

Naomi Yar, a staff member at Jamnel Care, highlights the human toll: “These tensions aren’t just political—they disrupt lives in the most intimate ways. When women can’t travel safely to deliver babies, or girls can’t access contraception due to insecurity, the ripple effects threaten entire communities’ health and safety.”

Mental health support remains critically limited, leaving survivors of GBV to suffer in silence. Without safe spaces, counselors, or legal assistance, the trauma inflicted by violence often goes unaddressed, impacting long-term wellbeing.

In response, Jamnel Care employs mobile outreach programs, safe space discussions, and youth-led education initiatives to empower women and girls to take charge of their reproductive health. “Our goal is not just treatment but empowerment,” Cheng’un emphasizes. “We aim to make women and girls leaders and educators within their communities.”

The organization urges the South Sudanese government, donors, and international humanitarian actors to prioritize SRHR in both national development and emergency response plans. This includes bolstering health systems, expanding mobile and community-based services, training healthcare workers, and ensuring respectful, quality care for all women and girls regardless of their location.

“SRHR is a fundamental right, not a luxury,” Yar affirms. “Investing in it saves lives, restores dignity, and fuels hope for a more equitable future.”

As South Sudan strives toward peace and recovery, safeguarding access to SRHR services—especially in fragile and conflict-affected areas—is essential for building a just, inclusive nation where no woman or girl is left behind.